Five Hydrating Foods to Pack in Your Child’s Lunchbox If They Have Dry Skin

Do you feel like you’re constantly reminding your child to drink plenty of water at school, only for them to return with a barely-sipped water bottle each afternoon? You’re not alone!

If your little one has dry skin or is eczema-prone, keeping their body hydrated is super important – along with nourishing their skin from the outside with things like oatmeal bath soaks and plenty of moisturiser.

Lunch and recess time at school often mean lots of running around without replacing much of the water the body loses. Packing hydrating foods in your child’s lunchbox can be a great way to boost their fluid intake throughout the day and make a big impact on keeping their skin healthy.

Which hydrating foods can help dry skin?

The good news is that drinking water isn’t the only way to keep our bodies hydrated and from the inside out. We can pack some delicious high water content foods in our children’s lunch boxes to increase their daily fluid intake.

Here are five kid-friendly, hydrating foods to include in your child’s lunch box this year to help support hydrated, healthy, happy skin.  This is not an exhaustive list, but a good place to start!

1. Cucumbers: approximate water content 95%

Cucumbers are made up almost entirely of water and provide a small amount of nutrients, such as vitamin K, potassium and magnesium.

2. Watermelon: approximate water content 92%

Watermelon is probably more popular than cucumbers! It's sweet, water-rich, and provides fibre and several essential nutrients, including vitamin C, vitamin A and magnesium.

3. Strawberries: approximate water content 91%

Strawberries provide lots of fibre, disease-fighting antioxidants and vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C and folate. Who could resist this sweet lunchbox treat?

4. Peaches: approximate water content 89%

As well as their high water content and abundance of vitamin C, eating a peach with the skin on can also provide a source of disease-fighting antioxidants.

5. Celery: approximate water content 95%

At 95% water, add a little pot of hummus, and hopefully, this crunchy and hydrating snack will become a staple in your child's lunchbox. 

Of course, always consider your child’s food sensitivities or allergies before introducing different foods to their diet. Keeping your child’s skin healthy during school term also means sticking to your regular skincare routine to add hydration from the outside and protect the skin’s barrier against moisture loss.

This blog post was brought to you and your family with love from the Itchy Baby Co. team x.

Disclaimer: Information provided is of a general nature only, and you should always consult your medical professional.