The worst thing a child can find in their lunchbox in a Key Stage 1 classroom is a whole apple! For most 5 year old children, it takes them a good 40 minutes to wade through a whole apple and so if apples are go, please cut it up!

The following are ideas for healthy, ideal lunchboxes. They are merely suggestions for when you have run out of ideas, there is nothing remarkable about it, just a few pointers from a teacher who has seen many packed lunches that work and more that don't! The most important thing is to make sure that your child actually LIKES what you are sending them to school with. With the distraction of sitting next to their best friend telling them jokes, schools are the last place a child will be willing to wade through something that they don't actually like.

Finger food works well. Also, look out for lunchboxes that have handy compartments. You would not believe what can happen to a grated cheese sandwich when it has traveled all the way to school in a giant rectangular box!

* easy to eat fruit such as strawberries, blueberries, seedless grapes and satsuma segments (peeled)

* small florets of broccoli, baby carrots and cold new potatoes

* small cubes of cheese, cooked ham or chicken

* cold sausages, sliced

* cold pasta with some grated cheese and a blob of tomato sauce (an all time favourite with children I have taught!)

* if you can get it, seaweed sachets are brilliant and well loved by children- extremely healthy

* cheese strings and cut pear

* pretzels (an alternative to crisps)

* apple chips

* cold rice, hard boiled egg and another blob of tomato sauce (a favourite from children in Spain!)

* sushi - the small round rolls are perfect!

* raisins and dried apricots

* small soft bread rolls