For Immediate Release                               24 January 2001

The challenge of packing a tempting nutritious lunch that your kids will eat can already be a frustrating daily event. Now with the heat of summer we need to make sure their lunches are both safe to eat as well as good to taste!

According to Nutrition Australia’s senior nutritionist, Aloysa Hourigan, the hot temperatures of an Australian summer mean children’s lunches are often left sitting in conditions that are just perfect for the growth of food poisoning bacteria. These bacteria thrive in warm temperatures and moisture. The school lunchbox can be just the right environment in which these food poisoning bacteria can grow. Bacterial food poisoning can give symptoms of diarrhoea, vomiting and fever. For young children, the greatest danger from food poisoning is dehydration.

Bacteria like to grow in foods that contain lots of protein such as meat, chicken, seafood, eggs and dairy products. They love moist conditions, which many of these foods provide, and they like to grow in temperatures between 50C and 600C.

How can you keep your children’s lunches safe?
Here are some tips:

• Where possible keep the cold foods cold

• Place frozen ice bricks in the lunchbox.

• Use insulated lunchboxes or a cooler (like a small esky).

• Freeze a drink bottle containing water, place in a water tight plastic bag and include with the lunch.

• Freeze yoghurt and milk drinks.

• Encourage children to eat the higher risk foods first (eg for morning tea)

• “Keep it Clean” when preparing food – Wash hands; use clean work surfaces and clean utensils.

• When shopping, take an esky or insulated bag and “Keep the cold foods cold”

Here are a few safe and nutritious food ideas for the lunch box

• Fresh Fruit & Salad vegetables

• Bread, bread rolls, bagels, pita bread ,Raisin bread

• Packaged fruit easy to open snack packs(-),Dried fruit

• Apricot Oatmeal Cookies ; Banana Bread (recipes in “The Lunchbox Book”)

For more lunchbox ideas and simple recipes contact Nutrition Australia on Ph: 3257 4393 and ask about “The Lunchbox Book", Cost $10.95 plus postage. Or visit our website on www.nutritionaustralia.org

For Further Information and Story Opportunities Contact :
Aloysa Hourigan
Senior Nutritionist

Mobile: 0417 078 956
Email: qld@NutritionAustralia.org