Campaign to help parents make healthy lunchboxes

Prof Bradley said Public Health was working with its colleagues and CI Coop in Guernsey to extend the initiative to shops in the other islands

A campaign aimed at making children's packed lunches healthier has begun.

The new initiative, led by public health teams and delivered through the Channel Islands' Co-operative shops, has introduced signs showing parents which foods for lunchboxes are nutritionally balanced.

There are also shopping lists, recipes and videos about healthy choices for primary school pupils online, and being shared through both organisations' social media channels.

The programme began in Jersey on Friday and Public Health said it was working on extending it to other islands, including Guernsey.

Director of Public Health, Prof Peter Bradley, said: "Good nutrition is vital to support children’s learning and we hope that this new initiative, along with already established healthy eating programmes including school meals and Food4Thought, will support families whose schools are not yet offering hot school meals or who prefer to send their children with a lunchbox."

Public Health dieticians made the food recommendations which are detailed on in-store signage.

Commercial delivery manager at CI Coop, Perushani Augustine, said: "We hope that our healthy lunchbox solutions will make life a little easier for parents and carers, and ensure their little heroes are looked after.

"Packing a healthy lunchbox is not only about the food but also an opportunity to sprinkle some positivity on their day and ensure children are ready and able to learn and perform to their full potential."