Packing lunches
If your school or workplace is in an outbreak area, you may not be able to pack restricted fruit and vegetables.
See our recipes below, and ideas for healthy lunchbox options that are safe to take in any outbreak area.
If you are able to move restricted fruit and vegetables, make sure they are disposed of in a green waste bin.
Easy recipes
Banana chia pudding
You won't be able to help falling in love with this Elvis chia pudding for breakfast or snack on the go.
Banana mango smoothie
Pack a frozen smoothie in a pouch or snack cup for a cool summer treat full of fruit.
Banana pancake
Add banana and blueberries to pancakes for the perfect breakfast, or to pack in the lunchbox.
Fruit sticks
Use a range of colourful fruit that isn’t restricted from fruit fly outbreaks to make these child-friendly snacks.
Oat cookies with fruit
Perfect for the lunchbox, these healthy cookies are filled with oats and banana. You can also bake in different berries or stone fruits for a delicious twist.
Porridge balls with fruit and veg
These tasty porridge balls are full of the goodness of oats, and you can add whatever fruits you like.
Lunchbox ideas
These food options for your lunchbox use fruits without restrictions, or fruits prepared in ways that make them safe from fruit fly.
Fruit you can pack
- Fresh pineapple cut into chunks
- Fresh melons (watermelon, honeydew and rockmelon) threaded onto icy pole sticks
- Frozen fruit – try grapes, berries or mango for a refreshing snack
- Cooked or stewed fruit with some yoghurt on the side – remember to add an ice pack
- Canned fruit in natural juice or water
- Dried fruits – not for everyday and keep these serves under 30 g
Other healthy snacks
- Wholegrain crackers or safe veggie sticks (celery, carrot, cucumber, snow peas or green beans) with hummus, tzatziki, or reduced-fat cream cheese –remember to pack with an ice pack
- Cheese and wholegrain crackers – remember to pack with an ice pack
- Tuna and wholegrain crackers
- Veggie muffins, zucchini slice or frittata made with any leftover vegetables in the fridge
- A small container (30g) of unsalted nuts or seeds
- Peanut butter (no added salt and sugar) sandwich – try wholegrain or high fibre bread
- Air-popped popcorn – try different flavouring options such as:
- garlic powder
- cinnamon and nutmeg
- garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, chilli powder and paprika
- Roasted chickpeas
These ideas are from Preventative Health SA – see more advice about eating well.
Eating enough fruit at home
If you can’t include fruit in your lunchbox due to fruit fly restrictions, there are other ways to eat the recommended 2 serves a day. Serve your favourite fruits at home:
- at breakfast – try sliced fruit on top of wholegrain cereal and milk
- after school as a fresh snack
- after dinner if you’re still hungry – try freshly sliced fruit with a dollop of yoghurt.