As the orientation period for next year’s kindergarten kids approaches, Tamworth schools are planning their information sessions on what to pack and what not to pack.

St Edward’s infants school is one that has signed up for the Cancer Council’s Healthy Lunch Box sessions for parents, to be held in late October.

Pedagogy leader and infants executive Claire Ryan said the session was part of ongoing school efforts to help kids eat healthy.

“We have found, as teachers in the classroom, that some students are lacking in concentration,” Mrs Ryan said.

“They’re at times quite restless, and we feel just by looking through lunchboxes ... that they’re filled with packaged, unhealthy foods – items that are full of sugar and preservatives.”

Mrs Ryan said children who brought healthy options were “more focused at concentrating on the task at hand”.

Mrs Ryan said the school had trialled sending home tags rating the contents of lunchboxes, but had learnt some parents found that confronting.

Positive reinforcement such as putting up photos of healthy foods in the classroom had made a “big difference”, she said.

“The kids were keen on getting their lunchboxes healthy and going home and talking about it.”'

Mrs Ryan said there were many reasons parents found it difficult to purchase, plan or pack for a healthy lunchbox.

“Busy lifestyles; work,” she said.

“It’s much easier to grab a few packets and chuck them in the lunchbox than to have to spend time cooking or thinking outside the square over what’s a healthier option for the children.

“And then possibly it could be cost, too, at times. Some fresher foods are more expensive.”

Little Lexi Hull, Noah Hull and Thomas Jefferys seem to know their stuff when it comes to a healthy lunchbox.

Quizzed by The Leader on what constituted ‘everyday’ and ‘sometimes’ foods, their answers were just what the doctor ordered.

“Fruit and veggies are normally; treats are unhealthy,” Year 2 student Thomas said.

Muffins were a food that should be eaten only sometimes, he said.

Noah, also in Year 2, named snakes – clarifying, after a shocked reaction from his little sister, that he meant the lolly kind.

Kindergartener Lexi said apples were for every day, but chocolate was a treat.

Thomas said “maybe ice-cream” was a food that should go in the treat column, too.

He said his Crunch & Sip that morning had been strawberries, apple, blueberries and grapes.

In an effort to ensure students stay focused throughout the day, St Edward’s has changed its break times.

Crunch and sip – a snack of fruit, vegetables and water – is held 10am, often while the children are still doing classroom activities.

Recess is at 11am and lunch is at 1.10pm.

Mrs Ryan said the school held a Wellbeing Week with a different theme every year.

This year it aimed to provide ways to eat healthily and pack a healthy lunchbox.

The school revamped its canteen menu to launch healthier options.

It also requested healthy recipes from families, which will be published in a recipe book, available by the end of the year.

The Cancer Council sessions are part of its nutrition program, Eat It To Beat It, which aims to help the next generation of parents pack healthy lunches for their children, for lifelong cancer prevention benefits.

Presenters held 11 Healthy Lunch Box sessions during the Tamworth and Armidale kindergarten orientation period last year, and schools are being encouraged to get on board again this year.

The free 25-minute sessions show parents how to pack a healthy lunchbox every day, and give them a free showbag filled with resources.

Nutrition project officer Juanita Nantes said including fruit and vegetables in the lunchbox was an easy step towards eating the recommended two serves of fruit and five serves of vegetables every day.

“Evidence tells us that diet is linked to cancer, and that eating more fruit and vegetables can help reduce your cancer risk,” she said.