LiftingtheLid on School Lunch Boxes

School dinners have had a radical overhaul thanks to the efforts of Jamie Oliver; but what about the lunchboxes we pack for our children?

A study by the School Food Trust revealed that over 40% of packed lunches don’t contain a single piece of fruit or vegetable that could count towards children’s five-aday.

It’s just as important to make sure the lunches children take to school provide a healthy, balanced meal - and that means plenty of foods that contain the nutrients children need, and fewer that are high in sugar and saturated fat. Starchy foods are a good source of energy and should make up a third of the lunchbox. But don’t let things get boring. Instead of sandwiches give kids bagels, pitta bread, wraps and baguettes. Use brown, wholemeal, or seeded bread, not white bread. Children often like food they can eat with their fingers, so chop up raw veggies such as carrots or peppers, and give them humous or cottage cheese to dip the veggies in.

Breadsticks and wholemeal crackers are great finger foods and they can be spread with lowfat soft cheese or eaten with reducedfat cheddar and pickles. Replace chocolate bars and cakes with fresh fruit, dried fruit, or unsalted nuts.

Vary the fruit each day and get them to try new things, like kiwi or melon.

You could also make up a tasty fruit salad. Be inventive and encourage your children when they try something new. A balanced packed lunch should contain:

> Protein foodsmeat, fish, eggs, beans, and others.

> A dairy itemcheese or yoghurt.

> Vegetables or salad, and a portion of fruit. It may take a while for your children to get used to a healthier lunchbox, but it will be worth it for their health, so keep trying. You can help by eating a wider range of foods at home, as a family. Reading supermarket food labels can help you to buy healthier foods.

> Starchy foods

- bread, rice, potatoes and pasta, and others.

Chocolate and cakes can be saved for occasional treats - praise is a better reward for your child when they have tried something new.

A WOMAN whose chronic pain was making life unbearable has a new lease on life after discovering a unique therapy.

Louise Downey was a chronic sufferer of Trigeminal Neuralgia/Cluster Headaches – a condition which caused her severe nerve and muscle pain that got “progressively worse” with her struggling with it for a decade.

It impacted her work, at Cardiff and Vale College, along with her quality of life and she found that nothing she tried to relieve her symptoms helped.

“My brother Paul lives in Malaysia and had heard about Master Chia Electromagnetic Acupuncture (Without Needles) Therapy,” said Ms Downey.

“I was reluctant and sceptical at first, with having tried all other treatments and medicines prescribed by Doctors and Neurologist, with little relief, along with the 16-hour flight.”

But her brother and family “persuaded” her until she decided that she had “nothing to lose” and flew to Malaysia where she received 15 days of treatment.

Following the fourth day of treatment she slept for an entire night – something her pain had not previously allowed. By the seventh day her zapping pains had disappeared and by day 11 the pressure in her head lifted.

“It’s the best thing I’ve ever done,” said the former sceptic.

“The treatment is amazing and, as I was pain free, I went into panic mode thinking that I was going to have to travel back and forth to Malaysia for treatment.”

She wanted to bring a machine back to Wales but was told that she would need the full training.

“I’m part of Trigeminal Neuralgia Association UK and had people following my story,” said Ms Downey.

“I updated them and said I was pain free and I learned that others wanted the treatment, but I wasn’t insured.”

Ms Downey decided to go for it – she left Cardiff and Vale College (where staff were “really supportive”) after 13 years and is now trained, qualified, and insured, along with being a member of the Complimentary Medical Association.

Ms Downey opened her own business, Nerve Connect on Minehead Avenue in Penarth, about a month before Covid hit [in March 2020].

This forced her to shut the venture temporarily, but it has since reopened with Ms Downey recently returning from another trip to Malaysia to meet up with Master Chia and other Therapists to share experiences and new treatments continue her training.

“Starting a business wasn’t my intention at first; I did the training and bought the machine to treat myself,” admitted Ms Downey.

“It wasn’t planned but I absolutely love it, that I’m helping so many people, some who have been in pain for so long, with a variety of ailments – I’m helping people from all over the UK.”

“For this particular type of treatment Nerve Connect is the only place in the UK and Europe currently offering it.”

Nerve Connect offers a six in one treatment – which includes:

Electromagnetic Therapy

Acupuncture (Without Needles)

Cupping

Muscle Imbalance

Deep Tissue Massage

This helps the body to Heal itself by Blocked Qi points are reopened

Cell regeneration

Releasing toxins

Injured Nerves are helped to heal. Blood circulation around injured areas is increased, healing injuries, and reducing inflammation. The “natural and non-invasive” treatment focuses on the whole body “because everything is connected” and sessions are 30 – 45 minutes long.

“I can relate to people facing long term and severe pain and understand the sense of frustration helplessness often felt. I also understand the scepticism with alternative medicine so offer a free consultation and trial of the treatment,” said Ms Downey.

“Nothing is 100 per cent guaranteed to work – it depends on the damage and how your body reacts to the treatment.

The treatment is particularly good for a variety of ailments and injuries causing muscle pain, nerve pain, inflammation, arthritis, posture, and helping the body heal.

“It feels different for everyone: most say it’s like pins and needles in the body, while some even compare it to an extremely strong tens machine.”

To find out more about Nerve Connect, and read real life testimonials to this holistic treatment visit nerveconnect.co.uk