Out-of-the-box ideas for school lunches

Are you looking for some fresh ideas for what to include in your children's school lunch?

Dietician and nutritionist Heidi Sze has you covered with these nutritious and delicious recipes that will liven up their lunch boxes.

Pasta salad with roasted cherry tomato, beans and corn

This pasta salad, with slow-roasted tomatoes, fresh corn and basil, is a salute to the warmer seasons.

It's packed with cannellini beans for extra fibre and protein and is an easily adaptable recipe, too, so if you want to sneak some extra greens into your kids' lunches, add a big handful of rocket.

Chickpea pumpkin smash

This recipe quickly smashes chickpeas together with a bunch of ingredients to make a filling for sandwiches or wraps. It's nourishing and satisfying and will last for several days in the fridge.

Leftover roasted pumpkin brings sweetness and softness to the smash, while the gherkins add a vibrant crunch.

You can also experiment with different flavour combinations based on your preferences and what you have on hand.

Wholemeal pikelets

Heidi fondly recalls her mum making her pikelets as an after-school treat, and it's a tradition she has kept going with her own children.

This recipe uses spelt wholemeal flour, which provides a heartier and healthier base, but you can regular wholemeal flour if you prefer.

You can also make the pikelets dairy-free by replacing the cow's milk with dairy-free milk, and the butter with coconut oil.