How to get back into healthy eating after holidays

It can be tough to get back into a healthy eating routine after a summer of treats.

When it comes to heading back to school, it seems parents could learn a lesson from their own kids' lunchboxes.

Some parents go through the daily drama of painstakingly packing lunchboxes, only to find them uneaten at the end of the day.

"I had the problem last year, when it was her first year of school, trying to figure out what to put in her lunchboxes that she would eat, and get enough food, and be full," says Tammy Rush of her daughter.

Ms Rush says a systematic approach is key.

"I'm putting in a protein, and we've got a couple of options depending on what's on sale at the store, and a fruit and at least one serving of vegetables," she says.

"I asked her if she wanted cucumber or capsicum today, she said, both, so we've gone with both, so that's fine."

"I love them a lot because they're so tasty," says daughter Chelsea Rush.

The cost of filling Chelsea's lunchbox comes in at around $2.

But while Chelsea gets a healthy lunch, Tammy admits she resorts to the drive-thru.

The Heart Foundation's dietician Angela Berrill says mums and dads often put themselves last.

"I really don't believe there is such as a thing as a child's lunchbox; adults should essentially be eating the same sorts of foods that kids are eating and vice versa," she says.

"When we're preparing lunch boxes it could be as simple as adding an extra lunchbox in for yourself.

"Things don't necessarily have to be expensive because they're healthy.  One of the key things certainly with fruit and vegetables is to shop in season."

Ms Berrill also recommends popping your own popcorn and making up your own natural yoghurt pots.

Not only is it much cheaper than convenience foods, she says homemade options are lower in fat, salt and sugar.

Newshub.