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Lunchbox advice from the front line

Dani Valent
Dani Valent

Sog factor: Avoid tomato in sandwiches.
Sog factor: Avoid tomato in sandwiches.Anita Jones

Lucas Townshend, 13, is in year 8 at Newtown High School of the Performing Arts in Sydney and he's been making his own lunch since year 6. "I like the feeling of being independent," he says. "It's good to rely on myself to make my own food, and I don't have to get angry at mum because she put Vegemite on a sandwich and I don't like Vegemite."

Lucas's tips for a great school lunch

■ Don't put tomato in sandwiches because it makes the bread soggy.

■ If taking yoghurt in a plastic container, make sure the lids aren't bent and place them on firmly so the yoghurt doesn't spill in your bag.

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■ Squeeze lemon juice on cut apple to stop it going brown.

■ Don't put your lunch under your books because it might get squished.

■ If you wake up a bit earlier you can make things like toasties and salads. I make a pizza toastie with pizza sauce, cheese and ham and wrap it in foil so it stays a bit warm. Sometimes I make a quinoa salad with beans, lettuce, boiled egg that I cut into wedges, lemon juice and tuna.

■ Other non-sandwich ideas are yoghurt and muesli, and a mix of tuna, celery and mayonnaise.

DON'T!

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Dani Valent polled a posse of primary school children on school lunch fails – things that went soggy and splatty were the biggest gripes.

"Cheese goes gross and slimy when mixed with tomato," says Buster, 11.

"I don't like squished tomatoes because they splat all over my lunch box," says Atticus, 9.

"Sandwiches get a bit boring, alfalfa sprouts are disgusting, ham gets warm and avocado goes gross," says Hazel, 11.

"Corn Thins go soggy if you put something on them so I take them plain and put stuff on at school," says Eva, 9.

"Avocado and lettuce go yukky and brown, and mayonnaise or tomato sauce go everywhere and they're not very nice when they get hot," says Daniel, 10.

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Dani ValentDani Valent is a food writer and restaurant reviewer.

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