About half of primary school children in the UK have a packed lunch. Unlike school dinner, there are NO OFFICIAL RULES about what should be in them to make them nutritious.
A new study from Leeds University (Evans et al, 2020) found that 98 in every 100 packed lunches failed to meet the nutritional standards.
What should a healthy packed lunch look like?
- The main- bread/rice/pasta- wholegrain if possible and should include some protein e.g. ham or cheese in the sandwich
- Piece of fruit
- Vegetables- carrot sticks/ cucumber sticks
- A snack- healthier alternatives to the common crisps and chocolate include malt loaf, teacake, plain rice cakes, popcorn or low sugar yoghurt
- A drink- water is a great choice and milk or unsweetened juice is also a good option
Choosing a Chartwells school meal will mean you will be getting a nutritionally balanced, healthy meal approved by a team of nutritionists without any preparation for parents/carers!!
Read the full study here:
Evans, C.E.L. & Melia, K.E. & Rippin, H. L. & Hancock, N. & Cade, J. 2020. “A repeated cross- sectional survey assessing changes in diet and nutrient quality of English primary school children’s packed lunches between 2006 and 2016”.BMJ Open 2020.
