Don’t send your kids off to school with boring, tasteless sandwiches – pack a wrap instead. They’re the perfect portable package, and filling and nutritious too

What better way to fill your kids’ lunchboxes than with a scrummy, healthy wrap? They’re much more fun than the standard doorstep sandwiches – and a lot more tasty. You can even get the kids involved in the kitchen: let them choose their favourite fillings and get them wrapping.

You can use chapattis or flour tortillas for your wrap. What you put inside is up to you – the possibilities are endless. Glean inspiration from across the world – Thai, Mexican and Indian recipe books are all good hunting grounds – and use fresh herbs and lime or lemon juice for flavour.

These recipes are for four people. If you don’t need this much, just reduce the quantities accordingly. If you make the full amount, there will be enough wraps for the whole family and you can freeze what you don’t use. Wraps are best eaten chilled, so a good way of keeping them cool in the lunchbox is to include a frozen carton of fruit juice.

• Tommy-K Chicken Wrap
• Tuna Mayo Wrap
• Easy Cheesy Pizza Wrap
• Peanut Nutter Chicken Wrap
• Veggie Curry Wrap
• Bubble and Squeak Wrap

Wraps in a rush

Tommy-K Chicken Wrap
Serves 4
A great way to use up leftover chicken.
Shred or finely chop 1 cooked chicken breast. Mix in 2 tbsp reduced-fat mayonnaise and 2 tbsp tomato ketchup and toss in about 25g shredded lettuce. Spead the chapattis or tortillas with softened butter and spoon in the chicken mixture.

Tuna Mayo Wrap
Serves 4
Mix 2 tbsp reduced-fat mayonnaise or salad cream with 1 can tuna in brine, drained. Dice ½ red pepper and ½ yellow pepper and mix into the tuna. Spread the tuna mix over the chapattis or tortillas, top with a few slices of tomato, season well and wrap.

Easy Cheesy Pizza Wrap
Serves 4 Spread 1 tsp tomato purée thinly across each chapatti or tortilla. Grate over enough low-fat Cheddar cheese to cover the tomato and sprinkle over a pinch of fresh or dried herbs such as basil or oregano. Top the 'pizza' with thinly sliced pepperoni, ham or peppers (or a combination of all three) and wrap.

Crunchy Chicken Wrap
Serves 4 Shred 1 cooked chicken breast. Add a chopped green apple (a Granny Smith is best) and a finely chopped stick of celery. Stir in 2 tbsp reduced-fat mayonnaise or creamy salad dressing. You can toss in some sultanas or raisins if your kids approve. Divide between the 4 chapattis or tortillas and wrap them up.

And if you’re feeling keen

Peanut Nutter Chicken Wrap
Serves 4
Grill a large boneless chicken breast with a little olive oil and lemon or lime juice, salt and pepper. Chop into small pieces or strips. Cook 400g jasmine, or white basmati rice, according to package directions. To make the peanut sauce, sauté ½ an onion with a clove of garlic. Make sure you don’t burn the garlic. Add a dash of chilli powder, ½ tsp curry powder and 2 tsp salt. Stir in 4 tbsp smooth peanut butter, 55ml coconut milk and 1 tbsp white wine vinegar. Stir together and add 2 tbsp dark brown sugar. Simmer for a few minutes, still stirring. Add some boiling water if it is too thick. To assemble, lay out the chapatti and spread over a quarter of the rice. Top with chicken, chopped coriander and some peanut sauce. You can also add some sliced cucumber and lettuce.

Veggie Curry Wrap
Serves 4
Cook 400g basmati rice, according to package instructions. Wash and chop an assortment of vegetables such as cauliflower, courgettes, carrots, potato and aubergine to equal about 400g in all. Heat 2 tbsp oil in a pan and briefly sauté ½ an onion and some garlic, if desired. Add the vegetables, 150g cooked or tinned chickpeas, 1 tsp or so curry paste or powder, ½ tsp cumin and salt to taste. Cook until tender. Layer rice, veggies and chutney on the chapatti and wrap it up.

Bubble and Squeak Wrap
Serves 4
No, not cabbage and bacon – it’s another name for a healthy Greek salad wrap (ssh… don’t tell the kids)
Place 200g mixed salad greens in a bowl – rocket, mesclun mix or a mixture of lettuce. Drizzle with fresh lemon juice and season with salt and pepper. Add chopped fresh herbs, such as mint and parsley. Add a chopped tomato and some sliced cucumber. Toss together. Spread a chapatti with houmous and layer on a quarter of the salad mixture for each wrap. For a more substantial serving add some falafel.