Too few school packed lunches meet nutritional standards

Summary

This University of Leeds study examined the nutritional quality of school packed lunches in England, assessing compliance with nutritional standards set for school food. The research likely found that a substantial majority of packed lunches fell short of recommended guidelines, with common deficiencies in fruits, vegetables, and dairy, and excess levels of sugary snacks and drinks. The findings contribute to the evidence base on children's dietary quality outside of school meal provision, where regulatory standards do not apply to home-packed food.

UK applicability

The study is directly applicable to UK policy and practice, particularly in England, where school food standards govern meals provided by schools but do not extend to packed lunches brought from home. The findings are relevant to public health nutritionists, school food policymakers, and local authorities seeking to improve children's dietary intake during the school day.

Key measures

Proportion of packed lunches meeting nutritional standards; food group representation; energy, fat, sugar, and salt content

Outcomes reported

The study assessed the extent to which packed lunches brought from home by schoolchildren meet established nutritional standards, examining the composition and quality of foods included.

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