Easy lunchbox ideas for young children that you can freeze

Finding healthy lunchbox snacks is not always easy. While your children don't need to bring their own food to Genius, our in-house chefs have plenty of ideas to help you prepare for days out with your little one. These are freezer-friendly recipes; they are delicious and ready to eat once defrosted.
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We understand that some things can be frozen and some things can't. Rest assured, these recipes are tried and tested and defrost to eat as delicious as the day they were made. Take it from our chefs; your child will love these lunchbox options when you are next out and about. We’ve chosen nut-free recipes just to be allergy aware, and ensure your child is ok to have these foods in most settings.
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How to be mindful of allergies at childcare‍

Why not do a big cook-up and freeze these snacks, so you are always prepared when you head out with your child? This ensures you know exactly what they are eating and you don't have to spend money on unhealthy fast food.
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Ham and Cheese Pizza Scrolls
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This is a favourite! Ham and cheese pizza scrolls are so easy to make, easy to freeze, and defrost so deliciously. These scrolls are so yummy and can be eaten warm or cold. If you wish, you can reheat them before your outing and put them into aluminium foil to keep warm. You can work together to create this one, as it's super simple! See the recipe below.

Ingredients

Puff pastry

Tomato paste or pizza sauce

Ham

Cheese

Method

·       Step 1: Preheat your oven to 200 degrees celsius. Spread tomato paste/pizza sauce over the pastry

·       Step 2: Top with ham and cheese

·       Step 3: Roll into a log

·       Step 4: Cut into 2cm rounds

·       Step 5: Bake at 200 degrees celsius for 15 minutes

To freeze, once the scrolls have cooled, put them into zip lock bags or cover them with cling wrap. If you don't want ham and cheese, you can use anything you have on hand, vegemite, salami, chicken, zucchini or bacon.

Coconut and Lemon Yoghurt Loaf

Slices you can freeze are a blessing and are ready if you are heading out at the last minute. This is a healthy and low-sugar option for your child and is super easy to make. This recipe is created in one bowl, keeping washing to a minimum, and your child will love being the chief mixer. 

Ingredients

2 Eggs

2 cups Self-raising flour or you can use plain flour and baking powder (2 tsp baking powder to one cup of plain flour)

1/2 Cup Shredded coconut for a yummy texture

1 Cup Yoghurt: greek/natural 

½ cup sugar or a plant-based sweetener

Juice of one lemon

Zest of one lemon

3/4 cup Coconut oil melted in the microwave

Method

·       Preheat the oven to 160 degrees celsius. 

·       Grease and flour your tin

·       Add the dry ingredients to a large bowl. Have your little learner give it a quick mix.

·       Add the wet ingredients (lemon juice, yoghurt, eggs and oil). Mix well until all combined.

·       Pour into a loaf tin (or a round cake tin). Smooth off the top.

·       Bake at 160 degrees for 50 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean. You can tell if it isn't cooked because there will be uncooked cake attached to the skewer.

·       Cool in the tin for 10 minutes. It helps it to firm up!

·       Cool on a wire rack. Don't cut into slices until entirely cool.

Broccoli and Cheese Muffins

These muffins are the perfect addition to the lunchbox as a non-sandwich idea. Some children can't eat or don't like sandwiches, but these muffins are easy to make and a healthy substitute. These muffins are great for eating on the go, are yummy warm or cold and can be made large for a main snack or small for mini bites when your little learner is peckish. If your child is gluten-free, you can use GF flour for this one with the same results.

Ingredients

1 cup of milk
1 cup of sifted self-raising flour
1 cup of sifted wholemeal self-raising flour
1 ¼ cups of chopped broccoli flourettes
1 cup grated cheddar or blue cheese
1.5 tsp thyme
1 egg
Olive Oil

Method

·      Preheat oven to 180 degrees.

·      Chop the broccoli into florets and cook until tender

·      Chop finely.

·      Mix all the ingredients together.

·      Put the muffins into mini muffin trays and bake for 18 minutes. Larger muffins will take 22 minutes.

·      Cool on a wire rack.

Finding healthy snacks for your little learner when you’re out and about can be challenging. If you want your little learner to have a healthy homemade snack on the run, try cooking one of these simple recipes, put them in the freezer in individual portions and grab as you need. Better yet, you can get your little learner to help you make these delicious snacks, and get them excited for their lunchbox! Happy cooking!

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