Being nut-free, this muesli bar is a versatile, delicious, nourishing addition to your school lunchbox. It freezes well also, so it’s great to batch-bake. Alternatively, serve it warm with cream or yoghurt for a luscious dessert.

This is my healthy take on a Greek classic pastitsio. Instead of a rich cheesy sauce, it’s topped with a much lighter blend of yoghurt, tahini and parmesan. It can also be made with beef mince if you prefer, but I personally prefer to use lamb.

I have read that Cypriot farmers made haloumi with techniques and ingredients unique to their family or village, often relying on it as a staple source of protein. These sensational haloumi chips are such a delicious starter or even a light lunch, served with a salad. They are really quick and easy to make and hard to stop eating once you start.

This melt in your mouth meal is so good that my family calls it ‘fancy restaurant food.’ It’s not at all difficult to prepare and the result is incredibly delicious

These little meatballs are delicious as is or served in lettuce cups or wraps. The mix of protein and a little veg makes them a nourishing and versatile lunchbox meal.

One way I ensure my kids’ lunches are healthy without me having to spend hours in the kitchen is to cook meals that can be packed in the lunchbox the next day. I often bake this quick and easy recipe for dinner in the hope that there will be leftovers to fill wraps for school lunches the next day. It’s delicious and very sustaining for busy kids.

This pie is a far cry from the basic meat and potato pie that most of us remember. The spices and long list of vegetables make it a truly healthy and hearty meal.

The Dutch often combine smoked meats and legumes in stews and soups. This delicious soup is a hearty, wholesome meal. While it takes a long time to cook it really is a no-fuss, set-and-forget dish my whole family loves.

My memory of Dutch cuisine always includes big bowls of mussels, crusty bread, frites and beer. I love mussels but only used to eat them when I was out for dinner. I somehow had convinced myself they were too hard and fussy to cook at home. Wrong! They are so quick, easy and versatile. I have many favourite ways to eat them but this simple flavour combo is a classic.

This pie contains a really lovely combination of flavours. The tartness of the apple combined with the beautifully balanced aromatic spices and buttery pastry is heavenly.

This pie is one of the family’s new favourites. Whenever we have a roast chicken for dinner, I throw in an extra chook and use the meat for school lunches and to make this simple pie for dinner. The combination of protein with vegetables, shiitake mushrooms and warming spices makes it a great immune-supportive winter meal.

My kids love a wholesome savoury pikelet for breakfast, lunch or a snack. This basic recipe can be altered to accommodate any combination of vegetables or flavours your kids like and is a nourishing addition to school lunches. Give lunch a nutrient boost and replace your bread with pikelets for a pikelet sandwich!