14^th-21^st November is Australian Food Safety Week.
Now that the weather is warming up, here are some tips for a healthy and safe lunchbox that is not going to upset those little tummies!

• When shopping for school lunches, head towards lower-risk options such as well cooked meats and poultry, hard cheese, well-washed fruit and vegetables, and spreads like Vegemite or honey.
• Avoid high-risk foods like soft cheese, deli meats and home-made (raw egg) mayonnaise. 
• Being prepared can help. It’s perfectly safe to make sandwiches, slices, muffins, etc the night before or earlier and pop them in the freezer. Transfer to the lunchbox right before leaving home. Freezing the food will help it stay colder for longer. 
• Make sure your bench, cutting board and utensils are clean and dry before prepping food. Use separate boards for ready to eat or cooked foods and raw foods to avoid cross-contamination. 
• Use frosty water bottles and freezer packs in lunchboxes to keep things chilled.
• Encourage your children to discard all leftover food after eating, including disposable food packagings like cling wrap or paper bags. Don’t reuse these items.
• When choosing a lunchbox, look for one that is easy to clean and dry. An insulated lunchbox is also a great idea.
• Before packing them, wash all fruits and vegetables thoroughly.
• Encourage good hand washing technique with your children. Teach them to wash their hands before handling and eating food.

For more information  visit www.safefood.qld.gov.au

Emma Middleton, Primary School Health Nurse - Cygnet, Huonville & Glen Huon Primary School