Lunch Box Revolution

Jamie Oliver has created a long overdue revolution about what we feed to school children. Not only is he a great chef & role model, he is also a great citizen demonstrating to us all the power of what one enlightened individual with a vision can accomplish. His campaign to improve the quality of school dinners has attracted close to 300,000 signatures. The government has responded by committing to spend an extra £280 million over the next three years on school dinners. Nutritional standards were introduced in 2003 for schools in Scotland, where £63.5m is being spent over three years on better ingredients.

But something else is going on, too: the dumbing down of eating. Children due to what we are feeding them go for the salt, sugar and fat every time. This is creating a costly obesity time bomb. Almost one in ten Lothian toddlers is clinically obese. Obesity increases the rate of heart disease, cancer, younger puberty and low self esteem. In Scotland where children are among the fattest in the developed world, one in five 12-year-olds is now classed as clinically obese — double the previous estimates. Simply stated - obese children become obese adults. Obesity and associated illnesses cost the NHS about £170m a year.

During a child’s time at school they will have up to 4000 lunches. Where better to start teaching them the lifetime habit of healthy food than their lunch boxes.

Fresh Salad

Easily prepared and bursting with health, a simple salad with some olive oil has to be a must. Tomatoes are bursting with vitamin C and lycopenes a natural cancer protection compound. Bean sprouts are a great addition; they are bursting with energy, enzymes and vitamins and are alive. Kids can have great fun growing them at home and learning about living foods. Freshly cut and washed organic vegetables - baby carrots & celery.

Organic Yoghurt

Bioactive yoghurt is an excellent choice as it contains calcium, protein and important B vitamins like riboflavin. Bioactive yoghurts also contain valuable bacteria which may be helpful for children with upset stomachs. Try and include the fruit yoghurts for the benefits.

Hard Boiled Columbus Egg

Omega-3 enhanced eggs are from hens fed a vegetarian diet containing 10 - 20% flaxseed. Omega-3 enhanced eggs contain ~10 times omega-3 fatty acids than the classic eggs. The brand Columbus Eggs are the only ones producing eggs in this way that you can buy in the supermarket. Omega 3 is one of the fatty acids required in the body to make the structure of the nerves and brain. Deficiency of this fatty acid in the diet has been shown to be related to behavioural problems.

Fruit and Nut Mix

A handful of raisins, currents and nuts instead of confectionary will help to better control the sugar levels of your child whilst at school. This may contribute to better concentration. An easier addition would be a muesli bar that can be easily found in health food shops. Both flapjacks and muesli bars are both made with oats which are great for the nervous system and high in fibre.

Fresh Fruit

Fruit such as fresh pineapple, or quartering an apple and sprinkling it with cinnamon in a bag ensures you meet a daily intake of fruit. You won't have to hear about it turning brown and the flavour is just like apple pie. Pineapple has an anti inflammatory enzyme called bromalane which is helpful in treating asthma. Cinnamon is high in chromium a mineral that helps proper glucose metabolism in the body.

Lemon or Orange Barley Water

To get children out of the habit of drinking fizzy drinks giving them cordials is a great idea. Especially when it takes 15 litres of water to bring adult blood pH back to balance after just one can of cola fizzy drink. The fluid our blood is made of is slightly alkaline naturally and both lemon and barley are naturally alkaline also.

StarGate Nutrition Vitamins

StarGate Nutrition nutrient material has been designed to be 16 times more effective, 5 times more utilised and 6 times more retained than the vast majority (99%) of nutrient material on the nutrition market. They have studied our material through independent laboratories using a number of biological studies to see its effectiveness over a number of development years. Their technology is based and confirmed by over 77 scientific papers and by a number of medical and nutrition Professors and prestigious institutions.They use 100% natural and totally allergen free.