Feeding kids while balancing what they actually enjoy and their evolving tastes is... a daily journey.

All school parents will know, creating a (nutritional) masterpiece can be risky, especially if your best efforts go uneaten.

And, to be honest, the worst thing you can do is Google for advice.

Actually scrap that! The worst thing you can do is post a question in aFacebookgroup, unless you want a large serving of judgement.

Wherever you’re looking, when it comes to kids' nutrition there’s a lot of information and even more unqualified opinions to wade through. Thankfully, Jennifer Arguelles is here to help us out.

As an Accredited Practising Dietitian, Nutrition Insights Manager at Bega Foods, and mum of three, Jennifer helps other parents navigate nutrition every day.

From concerns about “too much fruit” to “I've run out of snack ideas”, here are the 5 questions she’s always asked by parents. And of course, her super practical answers.

What’s in your kids’ lunchboxes?

Parents always want to know what Jennifer feeds her three primary school-aged children. After all, she does create a mean lunchbox.

While she says each of her children have their own (constantly changing) preferences, she does have a quick cheat sheet that parents can steal.

Importantly, Jennifer says she won’t stress if it doesn’t all get eaten. “My kids don’t always eat what I give them, and that might be because they’re too busy playing or they don’t like bananas that week, and that’s okay.”

Her top tip – keep adding new varieties into your kids' rotation. "Kids can quickly get sick of certain foods, and trying different things is a good way to discover new favourites.”

Should I let my kids snack?

Parents with younger primary school children often ask this question, worried they’re indulging unhealthy patterns.

“Their appetite might fluctuate, depending on their activity level and during certain developmental stages. So, there may be times where they want to snack more often," Jennifer says.

“Parents and carers should offer regular meals and snacks (three main meals and two snacks should be adequate), the child’s role is to decide whether to eat and how much to eat.”

Jennifer’s go-to snack? Yoghurt pouches. “My kids are loving Yoplait’s YOP flavoured yoghurt pouches."

As a mum, she loves them because they’re convenient. They're also a nutritious treat to have on the go or before extracurricular activities like dance classes. And, as a dietitian, she knows they contain eight essential nutrients naturally found in dairy, which include protein and calcium.”

Yoplait YOP pouches comes in a range of tasty flavours like Strawberry Jam Donut and Choc Banana –but don’t let these names deceive you. They’re made from real fruit with nothing artificial and they have a Health Star Rating of 4, making them a fun snack that can be enjoyed every day as part of their daily dairy intake.

“As they are dairy, they contain essential nutrients naturally found in milk, such as potassium, iodine, phosphorus, vitamins B2, B5, B12,” Jennifer says.

A bonus hack from the kids lunchbox queen, “I put them frozen in their lunchbox to keep the rest of their lunch cool.”

How do I get my kid to eat more vegetables?

According to the ABS, only 6 per cent of Australian children aged between 2-17 eat the recommended daily amount of vegetables, so Jennifer advises parents to think of each meal and snack as an opportunity to get more veggies in.

Here’s how to realistically make that happen for every meal, plus snacks.

My child only eats five foods, how can I get them to have more?

If you’re struggling to get your kids to eat certain foods, Jennifer has a few tips for fussy eaters.

Jennifer’s most important takeaway is keep mealtimes fun and relaxed. There’s always tomorrow to try again.

Is there such a thing astoo muchfruit?

This question normally comes from parents who are worried about the sugar content in fruit.

The Australian Dietary Guidelines recommend children have 1½ to 2 serves of fruit per day (this can vary depending on things like their age). One serve is equivalent to a medium piece of fruit, a cup of diced fruit and occasionally ½ cup of fruit juice.

“Having one or two serves of fruit more than the recommendations is unlikely to do harm, as long as they’re also eating from the other core food groups, like vegetables, dairy foods, meat and meat alternatives, and wholegrains."

Have you got a question about children's nutrition or a tip for mastering school lunchboxes? Let us know in the comments below. https://shop.coles.com.au/a/national/product/strawberry-jam-donut-130g

YOPPouches are a handy snack for kids on the go. Get your hands on the delicious Jam Donut and Choc Banana flavour at your nearest Coles.

All content in this article is intended as a guide to be used only for general information purposes. It is important to seek individualised advice from an accredited practitioner to work out the approach which is best for your child.

Feature Image: Supplied.