Recipes: lunch box

For many years I've made the smaller version (pikelets) for my kid's lunch boxes and they've always been popular. Traditional pancakes (or pikelets) made with refined white flour, sugar and and egg are fairly low on nutrition though, especially fibre. 

I developed this recipe a few years ago to boost the nutrition in the humble pancake and still provide a tasty option for the kid's lunch boxes (or breakfast!).

Winter is orange season!! If like me and you own an orange tree you've probably got more oranges than you know what to do with? Well make the most of those oranges and please the whole family with my light and fluffy orange cupcakes. Perfect for your weekend baking schedule, but be warned they may not make it to next week's lunch boxes! 

These soft morish cookies well have you asking for well....more! These cookies are a great source of fibre and not too sweet making them a happy lunchbox addition. 

Most kids love a classic cornflake cookie! I've taken this classic recipe and given it a boost in nutrition. These cookies are a great source of fibre, iron, B vitamins and have a nice little hit of Omega 3 fatty acids thanks to the chia seeds and they still taste like the classic cornflake cookie we all love!

These moorishly fluffy apple crumble muffins with zucchini will disappear so fast you'll wish you made a double batch! Home made baked goods are a great way to boost your child's intake of fruit, veggies and fibre. If your child is a little averse to "green bits" then I'd suggest peeling both the apple and the zucchini in this recipe. If they're happy with "bits" in their muffins, then leave the skin on for an extra boost in fibre and nutrition.

Black beans are a good source of fibre, iron, folate and protein making this brownie a  great snack option to boost your lunch box nutrition. Best of all the brownies require minimal prep, you can make them in your food processor.

These are my kids most requested snack item. I ALWAYS have them in the fridge and am still waiting for them to tire of them. What I like about this recipe is that it delivers a little hit of sweetness with less than a teaspoon of sugar per serve and plenty of fibre.

 

Ingredients 

13 medjol dates - pitted

1 cup dried cranberries

3/4 cup rolled oats

1/4 cup desiccated coconut (plus extra for rolling)

2 tsp coco powder

3 TBS light coconut milk

 

Place all ingredients in a food processor and blitz until smooth. Shape into small round balls with your hands and roll in desiccated coconut. Makes 21

 

Keep in an air tight container in the fridge.

Looking for a delicious snack for your child's lunch box that is absolutely packed with nutrition? Then this is it!! Loaded with fibre, plant based omega 3's, protein and plenty of other nutrients like zinc, phosphorus and calcium you'll be making this recipe time and time again.