Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Packed Lunch Recipe Cards: Free Printable Card Set for Year 5
- ForYear 5
- StageKey Stage 2
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Packed Lunch Recipe Cards is a free printable card set for Year 5 (ages 9 to 10). It has twelve lunchbox ideas to cut out, from a cheese and cucumber wrap to an oat bar. Children use the cards to plan balanced lunchboxes and explain their choices. It is screen free and needs only paper, scissors and a pencil.
It comes from the Mini Minds Hub, the free library of printables from Jaques of London, the British games and toy company that has been making games for families since 1795. Print both pages. Page 1 is for the child. Page 2 is for the grown-up, with notes, help and a stretch idea. Black and white printing works well.
What is on the sheet
Children cut out a set of twelve lunchbox cards. The cards show mains, sides, fruit and snacks, such as an egg sandwich, hummus and carrot sticks, grapes and yoghurt. They then use the cards to put together lunchboxes. They think about which foods go well together and why a lunch is balanced. The aim is to plan a lunchbox and explain it in their own words.
- Cheese and cucumber wrap
- Egg sandwich
- Pasta salad
- Chicken roll
- Hummus and carrot sticks
- Apple slices
- Grapes
- Banana
- Fruit pot
- Yoghurt
- Cheese cubes
- Oat bar
Building a lunchbox from the cards
Start with a main
Lay out the cards and choose one main food to be the centre of the lunchbox. Say why you picked it.
Add a side
Choose a side that goes with the main. Think about taste, texture and whether it adds something different.
Add fruit
Pick a fruit card to finish the lunch. Think about what is easy to eat from a lunchbox.
Check and swap
Look at the whole lunchbox. Could one card be swapped to make it more varied or healthier? Explain the swap.
Why plan a packed lunch?
Packed lunches are a real part of school life for many children. Planning one is a practical way to learn about food. Children have to choose, compare and give reasons. They also see that a lunch is made up of different parts, not just one favourite food. The National Curriculum for England covers this in the cooking and nutrition strand of Design and Technology.
Design and Technology starts with a need. Here the need is a lunch that is tasty, easy to carry and good for you. Children think about who the lunch is for and what they like. Then they plan and check their idea. Cutting out and moving cards makes this easy to try. They can change their mind without starting again.
Check for allergens such as bread, eggs, milk, nuts and gluten before anyone makes or eats a lunch. The sheet asks children to ask a grown-up for help with knives and hot things. Adults do the cutting with knives and any job that involves heat. Planning with paper cards is safe for everyone.
Lunchbox facts
- The UK has a government guide called the Eatwell Guide. It shows the main food groups.
- Cheese, yoghurt and milk are dairy foods.
- Carrots and cucumber are vegetables.
- Hummus is usually made mainly from chickpeas.
- Bread, wraps and pasta are often made from wheat, which contains gluten.
Skills and curriculum link
- Planning
- Healthy choices
- Design
- Food groups
- Explaining reasons
This sheet supports the area below. It is matched to the published England framework. Please check it against your own school plan.
| Framework | Subject or area | Strand | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Curriculum (England) | Design and Technology | Cooking and nutrition | Year 5 |
What children will be able to do
- I can plan a balanced lunchbox.
- I can choose foods from different food groups.
- I can explain why my lunchbox is healthy.
Helpful ideas for talking about food
- VarietyA lunch with different kinds of food is usually more balanced than one made of a single kind.
- Food groupsFoods can be sorted into groups, such as fruit and vegetables, starchy foods, dairy and protein foods. Each group does a different job for the body.
- SwappingSmall swaps can change a meal. A child can talk about what they would change and why.
- AllergiesSome people cannot eat certain foods. Checking before sharing food keeps everyone safe.
Key words
- BalancedMade up of a good mix of different foods.
- Food groupA set of foods that are alike, such as fruit and vegetables or dairy.
- ProteinA nutrient that helps the body grow and repair. Foods such as eggs and chicken contain it.
- Starchy foodFood such as bread, pasta and oats that gives the body energy.
- AllergenSomething in food that can make some people ill, such as nuts or egg.
- PortionThe amount of a food that you serve or eat at one time.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2, which has the notes for you.
- Check for allergens such as bread, eggs, milk, nuts and gluten. Ask a grown-up for help with knives and hot things.
- Cut out the cards. Work through the activity together the first time and talk about each choice.
- Check your ideas against the notes on page 2. Ask your child to explain why their lunchbox is balanced.
- Come back to it another day and try a different lunchbox. Repeating a familiar activity builds confidence.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Choose one main, one side and one fruit. Lay the three cards in a row and say why they go together. When that feels easy, swap one card for another and say whether the lunch is better or just different.
To stretch confident children
Design a full lunch and draw it. Label each food and write a sentence for each one to say why you chose it. Then explain to someone else why your lunchbox is balanced and what you would swap to make it healthier.
Make it a game
Turn the cards face down. Each player picks three and has two minutes to turn them into a lunchbox, with one swap allowed. They explain it aloud. The other players ask one question. Take turns and enjoy the different ideas.
Talk about it
- What makes your lunchbox balanced?
- Which food groups did you include, and why?
- How could you swap one item to make it healthier?
- Which card would you pick for a day out, and why?
- What would you change if someone in the family had an allergy?
- How would you keep your lunch fresh until lunchtime?
Take it off the page
Lunchbox survey
Ask three people what is in their favourite lunchbox. Write a list and compare the answers. Which foods came up most often?
Draw a lunch poster
Draw a lunchbox on a large piece of paper. Label each food and add a title such as 'My balanced lunch'.
Shopping list
Choose a lunchbox from the cards and write a shopping list for it. Say which items you would need to buy and which you may already have at home.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit with your child for the first go and let them lead. Ask why they chose each card. Praise their reasons, not just their choices. Check allergens first, and ask them to help with the shopping list.
Teachers
Use it as a starter, a plenary, an early finisher task or a table activity in Design and Technology. It needs no preparation beyond printing and cutting. Page 2 gives support and stretch ideas for mixed ability groups.
Home educators
Print it as part of a wider plan on food and cooking. It pairs well with a trip to the shops or a look at food labels. You can print it again for brothers and sisters or for revision.
Where this fits in learning about food
Before this, younger children usually learn to name foods and talk about what they like. They begin to sort foods into simple groups and hear that a healthy diet has variety. Those ideas give Year 5 children a base to build on when they plan a lunch.
After this, children can plan whole meals for a purpose and write simple recipes. They can also think more about where food comes from and how to prepare it safely with an adult. The strand covers all of these over Key Stage 2.
Check it worked
Ask these when the sheet is finished. Listen for the reasoning, not just the answer.
- What makes your lunchbox balanced?
- Which food groups did you include, and why?
- How could you swap one item to make it healthier?
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Packed Lunch Recipe Cards for?
It is written for Year 5 (ages 9 to 10), in Key Stage 2. Younger or older children can try it too. Adjust how much support you give and how much explanation you ask for.
- What will children practise?
They practise planning balanced lunchbox ideas. They choose foods from different food groups, make design decisions and explain why their lunchbox is healthy. It supports the cooking and nutrition strand of Design and Technology.
- Is it free?
Yes. It is free to print for home and classroom use. You can print it again for brothers and sisters or for revision whenever you like.
- Is it safe for children to use?
Yes. Children cut out cards and plan with paper. Check for allergens such as bread, eggs, milk, nuts and gluten. Ask a grown-up for help with knives and hot things. Adults do any cutting with knives and any job with heat.
- Can teachers use it in class?
Yes. Teachers can use it as a starter, plenary, early finisher task, homework or table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing and cutting. Page 2 has help and stretch ideas for mixed groups.
- What if it feels too hard?
Choose one main, one side and one fruit. Keep the choice small and talk about why the foods go together. Add more cards once that feels easy, and come back to it another day.
- Do I need to print in colour?
No. It prints well in black and white on plain A4 paper. Children can colour the cards in themselves if they like, which also makes the set their own.
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Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.