Parents are Still Failing to Provide Healthy Packed Lunches Flora Finds

Having experienced a Bristol primary school dinner that consisted entirely of sweetcorn because the dining hall had run out of food for all the children, any food in a lunchbox has to have more nutritional value.

The University of Leeds might not agree though, with Flora commissioned research released today claiming that only 1.6 per cent of children’s lunchboxes are meeting school nutritional standards.

In the case of the South Bristol school which failed to feed their Y3-Y6s directly before sports afternoon, that is probably a blessing.

But of course, for those who are putting morning cooked toast with a host of other diabetes inducing snacks it’s not good.

Flora found that children’s lunchboxes have barely improved in the last ten years and just 17 per cent contain any vegetables or salad.

Flora is calling on the government to raise awareness and do more to ensure that nutritional standards for school food are also being met in packed lunches. It shouldn’t be too hard to emulate Eden Food Services sweetcorn dinner in Broomhill back in July this year, simply by emptying a can of Jolly Green Giant into a Star Wars cool bag.

Helping Flora get their message out, Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on School Food, Sharon Hodgson MP, is spearheading the campaign.

“The research highlights the need for more action to be taken on food put in children’s packed lunches, something which the School Food APPG has recently called for,” Sharon says. “Despite positive moves with regards to the food provided as part of a school meal, food brought in by children in their packed lunches is lagging behind. Therefore we need more action to be taken if we want to see positive changes occur”

The research also found that 46 per cent are still bringing in sugary drinks and 60 per cent dared to include savoury snacks.

Nutritional Epidemiologist and the study’s lead researcher, Dr. Charlotte Evans said: “I hope the results of the study are an eye-opener, highlighting that more stringent policies need to be introduced if we want to see real change in the nutritional value of children’s packed lunches. New policies for schools, food manufacturers and retailers are needed, which will require strong support from government and stakeholders if progress is to be made. Flora has made a good start, but we need everyone on board in order to make an impact.”