Kids’ Lunchboxes are Still Rather Unhealthy
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According to a recent study, conducted by the University of Leeds, there are fewer than two lunchboxes out of a hundred meeting the government’a nutritional standards.
Only one in five contained a fruit or a vegetable, and most contained chocolate, crisps, and in one case, a pasty. Which is lunch in itself really.
But, while the kids’ lunches left much nutrition to be desired, the adults who took part weren’t exactly health gods.
300 lunches were examined and more than half had either too many sweet or savoury snacks in them. Almost all included a sugary drink, and only one in four contained enough iron.
Since 2006, the government has put in place a number of regulations for packed lunches and school meals. The majority of lunchboxes do actually pass the standard of protein and vitamin C, and apparently, fewer snacks like chocolate are being eaten.
Plain biscuits and cakes are now actually allowed, so long as they aren’t smothered in chocolate.
Head of research at the Children’s Food Trust, Jo Nicholas, says packed lunches are actually contributing to the UK’s child obesity problem.
She said:
“We’ve got to do more to help parents and schools with this.
“Putting a packed lunch policy in place can be tough, but every school allowing packed lunches needs one if we’re going to make life easier for parents and give kids a consistent message.”
Packed lunches should contain at least a piece of fruit, and no more than a piece of chocolate.
But then there’s me:
