Organising the Kids' Lunches with Sistema

Kizzy has a packed lunch at school most days and we have used various lunch boxes, bags and tins to try to make sure that she doesn't end up with soggy sandwiches, bruised bananas or yucky yogurt leaks.  Some methods have been more successful than others.  When I received a sample of Sistema to try out, Kizzy was delighted as two of her best friends have the exact same box and everyone thinks they are really cool! 

Sistema’s uniquely designed boxes from New Zealand use leading edge technology to ensure that children’s food stays fresh for longer.  Each lunch box has a rubberised seal making sure nothing can escape and the separate compartments in each box mean you don’t have to worry about the food getting mixed up and squashe against each other.

The lunch boxes come in a bright fun colours aqua, pink and lime green making it more fun for the kids. They are also freezer, dishwasher and microwave safe, making them practical for parents too. All Sistema products are BPA free and made from lead free materials.

Kizzy's usual lunch fitted in perfectly into the compartments keeping everything safe and undamaged.  The drink bottle is a great idea and will save us a fortune in buying cartons of juice.  Due to the box having separate sections, you couldn't fit in a whole large piece of fruit, but funsize fruit, grapes, sliced cucumber, carrot sticks or halved kiwi fruits are fine.  As each section has a rubberized seal, things can be placed  directly into a compartment without worrying about them falling out or needing to be bagged up first. Food stays fresher for longer too.  The hard outer means that the food is protected against being squashed by school books or PE trainers inside Kizzy's school bag!

I like that it is easy to clean.  I hate cleaning the soft lunchboxes and bags, they get so mucky and mouldy in the hard to reach places.  Sistema boxes can be immersed in hot, soapy water or put in the dishwasher.  Far more hygienic!

Not having a handle might make it more difficult for a younger child to manage, but to combat this, one of Kizzy's friends puts her Sistema box into an old zip up lunchbag.  This way it is easy to carry but all the lunch things are safely compartmentalized inside.

Sistema products are available to buy at Asda, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, Wilkinson, Amazon, Cargo, John Lewis and many more. RRP ranges from £2.49 - £7.99 for packs.

Primula Pods

Primula Cheese Spread has always been a bit of a favourite of mine.  So when I was offered the chance to try out their new Primula Pods I was happy to accept. 

The pods come in five individual 20g portions in a net bag.  The plastic packs open really easily to reveal a round cheese portion.  I was expecting it to be like a spread but it is in fact a firm cheese made from a mix of Cheddar and Gouda.   They come in an original cheese flavour and a cheese 'n' chive flavour.

They are perfect for lunchboxes and snacking and are high in calcium and protein with no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives.

My kids really loved them.  Kizzy said they were much more flavoursome than another leading brand of individual cheese portions that I sometimes buy  She said they were also easier to unwrap.  Freddy wanted three on the trot and they are now his "favourite snack".  I had a nibble of one and was pleasantly surprised.  The cheese tasted very much like an Austrian smoked cheese which is one of my favourites.  They are such a hit with the kids I've already bought more to replenish the stocks and they will be featuring on our weekly shopping list.

They cost £1.29 RRP and are available from Morrison's and independent stockists.

Primula Pods have a fun website with games, colouring in and other fun stuff at www.primulapods.co.uk.

Soreen - Deliciously Squidgy Energy

Soreen Malt Loaves, Toasties, Lunchbox Loaves and Snackers

We have recently been sent a hamper of Soreen products to test out.  This has made my husband Ian and my daughter Kizzy really happy because they are big fans of Soreen!  They love chomping through a malt loaf between them.  I have never indulged because I don't like eating dried fruit and Malt Loaf is cram packed full of raisins!  

Receiving a Soreen Banana Loaf meant that I would at last get to sample the squidgy goodness for myself!  When I tried it I understood why it is described as 'squidgy'!  It is dense, sticky and very fruity.  We were all very impressed with the Toastie Loaf that had pre-cut slices so Kizzy could help herself to a snack (cutting Malt Loaf is a bit of an art to avoid squashing it flat with the knife!)  The individually packed lunchbox loaves and Snackers mean that Kizzy can have Soreen in her lunchbox, which makes her extremely happy!

Here are all the details of the Soreen goodies:

Union Jack inspired Original Malt Loaves

Available in two sizes - ‘Great’ and ‘Greater’ – the limited edition packs of the nation’s favourite malt loaf are jam packed full of deliciously squidgy energy.  The celebratory loaves feature the same unique malty taste Soreen is famous for and are filled to the brim with raisins. The packs will be available for a limited and will be stocked in all major retailers, including Asda, Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Morrisons nationwide, retailing at 70p for a ‘Great’ loaf and £1.19 - £1.25 for a ‘Greater’ loaf.

Lunchbox Loaves

Available in Original Malt Loaf and Banana flavours, each pack of new Lunchbox Loaves contains five individually wrapped mini loaves, designed for maximum freshness, meaning they’re a great bitesize treat to enjoy every day of the week.  Packed with deliciously squidgy energy and the unique malty taste, each Original Malt Loaf flavoured loaf contains just 95 calories and 0.1g saturated fat, making them a great low fat, high energy snack.  The Banana version is jam-packed full of yummy banana goodness with a light, fruity taste. The temptingly moist loaves each contain just 99 calories and 0.3g saturated fat, providing a delicious treat to enjoy at lunchtime.  Perfect for snacking on during a busy day, the Lunchbox Loaves are a great tasting, healthy snack to keep those on the go full of energy all day long!

Both flavour  Lunchbox Loaves are stocked in Asda, and the Original Malt Loaf available in Sainsbury’s, retailing at RSP £1.35.

NEW Snackers

Available in two flavours, Original Malt Loaf and Fruity Five, Snackers contain five handy individually wrapped slices. Low in calories (under 90 per slice) and low in fat, as well as being high in energy, they provide a healthier alternative snack, keeping those on the go full of energy all day long!

Available exclusively from Asda: RSP from £1.28.

NEW Malt Toastie Loaf

Malt loaf can now easily be enjoyed hot and toasted as a delicious breakfast or mid-morning snack. Full of juicy raisins, each slice of Toastie Loaf contains just 116 calories and 0.3 per cent saturated fat. Pre-sliced for ease and sized perfectly for the toaster, serve simply with a little low fat spread or, alternatively topped with jam – scrumptious!  Available from Asda, Tesco and Morrison’s. RSP from £1.39.

Banana Fruit Loaf

Containing less than 1.5 per cent saturated fat and packed with yummy banana goodness and only natural ingredients, the Banana Fruit Loaf provides the perfect alternative to an energy bar before a hard work out.  Available from Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Co-op, Asda, Ocado and Waitrose. RSP from £1.29 for a large loaf.

Original Malt Loaf

Full to the brim with raisins, original malt loaf is available in a variety of sizes including standard, large, sliced and a Snack Pack containing two pre-buttered slices. Containing less than three per cent fat, it’s a great low fat, high energy snack.  Available from all major supermarkets. RSP from £1.29 for a large loaf. Snack Packs RSP from 70p.

Innocent Veg Pots now Veg Soc Approved!

Innocent's Veg Pots are the most amazing, quick and easy vegetarian ready meals I've ever come across.  The brilliant team at Innocent sent me a box containing six varieties of Veg Pot to try, and I took my role of tester very seriously, tucking into each and every one over the week.

The range of flavours includes:

• Indian Dahl Curry with spicy cauliflower, chickpeas and spinach.
• Thai Coconut Curry with wild rice, edamame beans and lemongrass
• Portuguese Red Pepper Piri Piri with potatoes, bravas, chilli and smoked paprika.
• Moroccan Roasted Veg Tagine with butternut squash, giant couscous and coriander.
• Roasted Aubergine Moussaka with borlotti beans, tomatoes and mint.
• Mexican Sweet Potato Chilli with brown rice, roasted red peppers and smoked paprika.

Each pot consists of a delicious blend of fresh ingredients: vegetables, whole grains and tasty sauce with herbs and spices... and provides 3 of your 5 a day!  Low in fat, high in protein and less than 350 calories a pot, they make a healthy snack or a perfect lunch.  Found in the chilled meals aisle they are microwavable in 4 minutes giving a piping hot, delicious and filling meal.

Fresh vegetables, grains, sauce and spices!

In true Innocent style, the packaging has so much attention to detail with fun ideas for re-using your plastic pot to Veg Art to entertain you while you wait for your Veg Pot to cook.  I love Innocent's sense of humour and their company ethos.

Excitingly, to all us vegetarians out there, the entire range of Innocent Veg Pots have been given the Vegetarian Society's stamp of approval and now wear the 'Vegetarian Society Approved' badge with pride!  We can be completely confident that they have been manufactured to the highest standards!

I enjoyed all six varieties and was impressed with the depth of flavour.  The blend of spices was just right, giving a nice warming flavour to the pots.  They taste like real food...not processed!  I was impressed with the authentic ingredients and enjoyed the mix of vegetables, wholegrains and pulses in each variety.

My husband definitely fancies the idea of taking them to work to microwave for his lunch as a healthier, more interesting change to his usual cheese sandwich!  They have definitely got the Inside the Wendy House seal of approval!!

Veg Pot.

Microwave.

Enjoy x

Check out Innocent's Website for fun. games and product information.

Fabulous Bakin' Boys Fruit and Oat Slices

I was very excited to hear that the Fabulous Bakin Boys had brought out a snack bar that contained one portion of fruit, one whole fifth of your five a day!  As a mum with two children eating packed lunches at school, it is really important to me to find healthy options for their lunch boxes.  This sounded like an ideal choice!

I had the opportunity to try the Fruit and Oat Slices and received a box containing one packet of each of the three flavours:


Strawberry 'n' Oat
Apple 'n' Oat
Blackcurrant 'n' Oat

Each box contains five individually wrapped, delicious fibre-packed snack bars consisting of two layers, with a fruity base crammed with succulent sultanas, apples and apricots, topped with oats and sprinkled with strawberry, blackcurrant or apple pieces.

My tiny tester Kizzy was very excited by these oat slices.  She loves dried fruit and is always keen to try new things.  We popped one in her lunch box.

With a high fibre white, cheese and cucumber sandwich, a satsuma, a banana and a carton of pure orange juice, the Fabulous Bakin' Boy's Fruit and Oat Slice completed a really healthy lunch box.


Kizzy said:


"It was really nice and delicious and fruity.  I expected it to taste like a flapjack with a hint of fruit, but it was much more tasty.  It was much better than a bar of chocolate!  The Strawberry flavour was ever so good and it's part of my five of day."


A definite 5/5 verdict from Kizzy.

The new Fruit 'n' Oat Slices are available at  Asda and Sainsbury's and are coming to Tesco on February 16th RRP £1.49 (Introductory price of £1.00).


Perfect for lunch boxes, after school snacks, picnics, in the car or as a tasty treat.  As a mum they are an ideal choice to give your children, content in the knowledge that they are a much healthier alternative to other cereal bars, biscuits or cakes on the market.  


I've tried a few myself (in the interests of reviewing of course!) and they really are intensely fruity, packed with goodness, filling and satisfying.  18 month old Freddy has also tasted the Fruit 'n' Oat Slices.  I sliced a half of one into bite sized pieces and gave it to him as a snack.  He positively gobbled it up!


There are plans to launch bigger sized bars of the strawberry and apple flavours for adults on the go!

The Fabulous Bakin' Boys is an established family run bakery brand which adds fun and innovation to the art of baking, producing fabulous bakery products for the whole family.

Check out their website or find them on Facebook  and don't forget to say Inside the Wendy House sent you!