Uber Eats launches £6 boxes that can be ordered in time for the school run

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End of the packed lunch scramble? Uber Eats launches £6 boxes that busy parents can order in time for the school run – including a main, a side of fruit and chocolate

  • Uber Eats is launching a new lunchbox morning delivery service for busy parents
  • Families can choose from three healthy lunch options, each costing £6
  • Created by nutritionist Megan Rossi, the lunch packs mix sweet and savoury
  • They will be available in London and Birmingham for an initial trial from Monday 

By Stephanie Linning For Mailonline

Published: 14:05 GMT, 20 February 2020 | Updated: 14:06 GMT, 20 February 2020

Food delivery giant Uber Eats is launching pre-made packed lunches for children.

The Lunch Box Shop will offer three £6 packs that parents can order first thing in the morning to arrive in time for the school run.

Created by nutritionist Dr Megan Rossi, each pack includes a main lunch, a fruity snack and a chunk of ‘chocolate bark’ for pudding.

The aim is to help busy parents who struggle to send their children off to school with a healthy, balanced lunch. 

Uber Eats is rolling out the Lunch Box Shop to help busy parents who find themselves scrambling to get their children out the door with a healthy packed lunch. Pictured, the Rainbow Wrap (£6), which comes with chocolate bark and fresh fruit, dolloped with nut butter

Uber Eats is rolling out the Lunch Box Shop to help busy parents who find themselves scrambling to get their children out the door with a healthy packed lunch. Pictured, the Rainbow Wrap (£6), which comes with chocolate bark and fresh fruit, dolloped with nut butter

The service will be trialed in Birmingham and London for two days from Monday and could become a permanent offering if it proves popular. 

The lunch boxes will be available to order via the Uber Eats app but it is up to the parents to make sure they are ordered in time for the school run.

Parents can choose between the Rainbow Wrap, a colourful veggie and hummus wholegrain wrap with grilled chicken or tofu; the Punchy Pesto Pasta, topped with peas and tomatoes; or the Loaded Veggie ‘Muffins’, vegetables layered with egg, hidden lentils and topped with feta, bundled into a wrap to mimic a muffin.

The service will be available in Birmingham and London for two days from Monday, with the possibility of it becoming a permanent offering. Pictured, the Punchy Pasta Pesto (£6), packed with veggies, which comes with chocolate bark and fresh fruit, dolloped with nut butter

The service will be available in Birmingham and London for two days from Monday, with the possibility of it becoming a permanent offering. Pictured, the Punchy Pasta Pesto (£6), packed with veggies, which comes with chocolate bark and fresh fruit, dolloped with nut butter

The service will be available in Birmingham and London for two days from Monday, with the possibility of it becoming a permanent offering. Pictured, the Punchy Pasta Pesto (£6), packed with veggies, which comes with chocolate bark and fresh fruit, dolloped with nut butter

Each comes with the chocolate bark and fresh fruit, served with either yoghurt and honey or a dollop of nut butter. 

It comes as a survey of 2,000 parents revealed that 30 per cent of parents buy their child’s lunch on the way to school and almost 1 in 3 admit they have sent their little ones off without any food at all because they were too disorganised. 

Lunch Box Shop Menu 

Rainbow Wrap (£6) 

Colourful veggie and hummus wholegrain wrap with grilled chicken or tofu. Comes with delicious chocolate bark and fresh fruit, dolloped with nut butter. A pretty way to get kids eating more vegetables.

Punchy Pesto Pasta (£6)

Pesto pasta packed with hidden veggies and topped with peas and tomatoes. Comes with delicious chocolate bark and fresh fruit, dolloped with nut butter. A classic with added nutrition.

Loaded Veggie ‘Muffins’ (£6) 

Scrumptious vegetables layered with egg, hidden lentils and topped with feta, all bundled into a wrap to mimic a muffin. Comes with delicious chocolate bark and yoghurt topped with fresh fruit and honey. Perfect for those older kids looking to try new things.

Some 65 per cent said they were worried their children were not eating well and admitted to feeling guilty if their lunch included crisps, biscuits or sweets. 

Dr Rossi, founder of the Gut Health Doctor, said: ‘All three choices are focused on whole foods and rich in plant-based fibre to keep kids healthy and happy from the inside out. 

‘Variety is key to making sure they’re getting the nutrients they need, so with each option, kids will get at least eight different types of plant goodness in one – as well as prebiotics to feed their inner community of gut bacteria.’

Toussaint Wattinne, General Manager of Uber Eats, UK and Ireland said: ‘The morning school run is full of little stresses so we wanted to help give parents one less thing to worry about. 

‘It’s important that kids have the fuel they need to get through the school day but it can be difficult to find food that’s quick and also healthy. 

‘That’s why we’re that the Lunch Box Shop can introduce nutritious meals without the hassle via the Uber Eats app. Parents can focus on the chaos of school mornings and we’ll take care of the food.’ 

The lunch boxes will be available to order via the Uber Eats app. Pictured from left, the Loaded Veggie 'Muffins', the Rainbow Wraps, the chocolate bark, the fruit and yoghurt, the Punchy Pasta Pesto and the fruit with nut butter. Each £6 lunch comes with a main, fruit and chocolate

The lunch boxes will be available to order via the Uber Eats app. Pictured from left, the Loaded Veggie 'Muffins', the Rainbow Wraps, the chocolate bark, the fruit and yoghurt, the Punchy Pasta Pesto and the fruit with nut butter. Each £6 lunch comes with a main, fruit and chocolate

The lunch boxes will be available to order via the Uber Eats app. Pictured from left, the Loaded Veggie ‘Muffins’, the Rainbow Wraps, the chocolate bark, the fruit and yoghurt, the Punchy Pasta Pesto and the fruit with nut butter. Each £6 lunch comes with a main, fruit and chocolate

Nutritionist shares her tips for making healthy children’s meals

Dietitian and nutritionist Dr Megan Rossi, founder of the Gut Health Doctor, who worked with Uber Eats on the lunchboxes, shares her advice

1. Pack in the plant goodness. Dietary fibre is key for their gut, and overall, health. High-fibre foods might not have immediate appeal, so try shredding, grating and baking veggies into other foods – perfect for sneaking into pasta sauces, egg-based dishes, meatballs, pancakes and muffins that they can munch on all week!

2. Roast the veggies, not the kids. Roasting veggies with olive oil brings out the natural sweetness and the consistency, soft on the inside and crispy on the outside; likened to French fries. Food psychologists also recommend not to force feed kids because turning eating into an emotional drama can lead to long-term food avoidance (even into adulthood). Instead show them you eating (and enjoying) it and re-attempt in a week or two. Don’t stress, it’s normal to take several (around five) attempts before some foods are accepted.

3. Get them in the kitchen. Try letting them choose the ingredients and even help to prepare their meals for the week – they’ll love taking ownership and will be more likely to enjoy it if they helped create it. You can turn the batch cooking into a fun family activity on a Sunday (special aprons and all!) then freeze half the portions for a future hectic week.

4. Befriend the blender. Spreads, dips, dressings, sauces, fillings – the blender can be a busy parent’s best friend and the options are endless, from pea hummus to red pepper dip with live yoghurt. Cut up some carrot, cucumber or wholegrain bread for finger foods and let them do the dipping, or use your homemade spread instead of butter – my fast favourite for adding some plant goodness to their lunch boxes.

5. Add a little adventure. Get some fun food cutters and turn their sandwiches or fruit into quirky shapes to make them more appealing. Making a scene can also make veggies more interesting – broccoli makes great trees!