Recent research found that only 1% of children’s packed lunches have the same nutritional value as the new healthy school lunches – the study conducted by the University of Leeds found that only thirteen lunches contained an acceptable balance of vegetables, fruit, carbohydrates, protein and had foods low in salt and sugar out of a sample of 1,300 – which is pretty staggering.
Too many parents are incorporating fizzy drinks, sugary snacks and crisps – however as with any research project the results look very black and white in isolation.
Some additional factors worth considering:
1) Time-pressure – in the morning many parents are busy trying to simultaneously get themselves ready, prepare breakfast, persuade their kids to eat at least some of said breakfast, make a packed lunch, fill in school forms, find loose change, all the while lurching towards a prolonged battle at the door to finally leave the house with everything that everyone needs for the day.
It’s not a excuse for filling lunch boxes with processed food, but if you don’t have time to study labels, it could be a reason why so much unhealthy material finds its way in.
2) The appeal of school dinners – whilst these have become more healthy on the whole, they have not necessarily become more appealing.
Our daughter will only have school dinners when there is a roast on the menu and at least when she has packed lunch I can see exactly what has been eaten (or squashed into a ball in the hope I don’t notice).
3) The overall eating habits of the family – one could assume that parents who give their children only pop, crisps and chocolate for lunch might also eat pretty unhealthily the rest of the time, however is it fair to assume the same of the parent who might occasionally include a treat?
4) The judgement of peers – children can be very critical of other children’s lunchboxes, our daughter asked me to stop including Clearspring fruit tubs after an older boy accused her of eating baby food.
So, if like me you want your children to be both healthy and happy with a lunch that sets them up for an afternoon of hard work and play, but is also enjoyable and not likely to turn them into a lunchtime ‘weirdo’; you watch the salt and sugar, aim for some fruit and veg, include some protein and a yoghurt/bit of cheese but also occasionally stick in something that you know they will love, like a small piece of cake or little box of yoghurt-coated raisins because you know that most of the time their diet is a good, balanced and healthy one.
Some healthy suggestions for your packed lunch available to buy online at Garlands Organic:
Santa Maria Organic Multigrain Wraps £2.99
Nairns Organic Oat Cakes £1.29
Tropical Fairtrade Chewy Banana Chips 200g £1.59
Tropical Organic Dried Mango Strips 100g £1.89
Assorted organic flapjacks, fruit bars and cereal bars from 45p-£1.05
