Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s suggestion of a Marmite sandwich and an apple for lunch wouldn’t keep a child full or feed their brain sufficiently, according to local health and education experts.

“If you’re just doing a Marmite sandwich and an apple, you’re probably not meeting the protein requirements [which depend on age and gender],” paediatric dietician Jenny Douglas explained to RNZ.

“Ideally it would be a Marmite and cheese sandwich at least,” she said, noting that the high salt content of Marmite, which could shape one’s palate, giving a child a taste for salty snacks like pies and chips early on.

    • Dave@lemmy.nzOPM
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      5 days ago

      Hmm, that’s a good thought but my kids have these compartmented lunch boxes they got from their grandmother. Not a lot of room for an ice pack. I think I’ve heard of special ones designed for lunch boxes, I might look into that. Thanks for the reminder!

      • absGeekNZ@lemmy.nz
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        4 days ago

        We tried various “lunchboxes” but they all suck, we reverted to what was used in the 80’s and 90’s; just a 2l ice cream container.

        Reusable bag for sandwich, a little container for pretzels/nuts/dates…whatever, a reusable squeeze pouch for yougurt, a couple of bits of fruit. The compartmented lunchboxes are often just the wrong shape.

      • Skeezix@lemmy.world
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        5 days ago

        I use the small thin gel ice packs that are like ziplock bags. They’re thin and somewhat flexible even when frozen. easy to tuck one over a sandwich

        example