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Budget-friendly lunchbox solutions

Accredited dietitian, spokesperson for the Dietitians Association of Australia and mum of two, Kate Di Prima, is on a mission to change the way Aussie parents think about leftovers, lunch boxes, and the importance of sending kids to school with nutritious foods.

According to a recent survey, Australian parents spend $2.75 billion on packed school lunches every year, with an additional $400 million spent on canteen meals. A more cost-effective and nutritious solution to making lunchbox meals is to look within your fridge for last night’s leftovers.

Di Prima has designed a number of family-friendly dinner recipes that will easily transfer straight to the school lunch box the next day, without the need for reheating – saving many parents time and money.

Here are a few of her leftover lunchbox recipe ideas:

Leftover roast lamb – slice up and use in a pita pocket with hummus and salad veggies. Try Kate's recipe for Lamb and veggie wraps with sweet chilli sauce

Leftover rissoles or meatballs – make into a healthy burger on a wholemeal roll with salad. Kate's mini meat loaves with plum sauce make delicious next-day lunch box fillers.

Leftover roast meat and vegetables – cut into bite size pieces and mix with lettuce or add to some couscous for a salad with a twist - Kate's Pumpkin and couscous salad is perfect with leftover roast beef and veggies.


Top tips on how to keep a fresh lunchbox

• Use an insulated lunch box and include a small freezer brick or a bottle of water that has been frozen.
• Invest in lunch containers of various sizes. Leftovers should be packed in tightly so they can’t move around and create mess.
• An insulated thermos container can keep food hot until lunch time.
• If you don’t normally have leftovers after dinner, just add extra to your recipe to ensure leftovers for lunch the next day.


Did you know:

• Aussie parents spend 60 million hours a year packing school lunches.
• Ninety per cent of parents regularly throw away uneaten, nutritious leftovers from family meals.
• A sandwich made with leftover meat from dinner, such as roast beef, contains almost three times the protein, more than double the amount of iron, and around five times the zinc as a sandwich containing a yeast spread or jam.

You can find more of Di Prima’s tips and recipes at www.themainmeal.com.au