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| Healthy lunchboxes are 'a rarity' | Healthy lunchboxes are 'a rarity' |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Only 1% of primary schoolchildren's packed lunches meet the nutritional standards set for school meals in England, a study suggests. | |
| Crisps, sweets, and sugary drinks still dominate over fruit and veg despite the government's drive to make lunchboxes healthier, a BMJ publication reports. | Crisps, sweets, and sugary drinks still dominate over fruit and veg despite the government's drive to make lunchboxes healthier, a BMJ publication reports. |
| The UK authors examined the contents of 1,300 schoolchildren's lunchboxes. | The UK authors examined the contents of 1,300 schoolchildren's lunchboxes. |
| Half of UK schoolchildren eat a packed lunch brought from home, equating to 5.5 billion packed lunches a year. | Half of UK schoolchildren eat a packed lunch brought from home, equating to 5.5 billion packed lunches a year. |
| All of the children in the study, who were aged between eight and nine, took a packed lunch to school on at least one day of the week. Almost nine out of 10 ate a packed lunch every day. | All of the children in the study, who were aged between eight and nine, took a packed lunch to school on at least one day of the week. Almost nine out of 10 ate a packed lunch every day. |
| There are many initiatives going on to improve our diet and exercise, but change won't happen overnight Lead researcher Charlotte Evans | There are many initiatives going on to improve our diet and exercise, but change won't happen overnight Lead researcher Charlotte Evans |
| Over a quarter of the children had a packed lunch containing sweets, savoury snacks, and sugary drinks - things banned under rules on healthy prepared meals for local authority schools in England, which came into force in 2006. | Over a quarter of the children had a packed lunch containing sweets, savoury snacks, and sugary drinks - things banned under rules on healthy prepared meals for local authority schools in England, which came into force in 2006. |
| These standards say school lunches must contain protein-rich foods such as chicken and low fat starchy foods like pasta, as well as vegetables, fruit and dairy products. | These standards say school lunches must contain protein-rich foods such as chicken and low fat starchy foods like pasta, as well as vegetables, fruit and dairy products. |
| Only one-in-five packed lunches contained any vegetables or salad, the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health reported. | Only one-in-five packed lunches contained any vegetables or salad, the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health reported. |
| 'Not surprising' | 'Not surprising' |
| Although half the children were provided with fruit, it was the least likely food in their boxes to be eaten, while confectionery was nearly always gobbled up. | Although half the children were provided with fruit, it was the least likely food in their boxes to be eaten, while confectionery was nearly always gobbled up. |
| Only 1.1% of the children's packed lunches met all the required nutritional standards for school meals, which include keeping the contents low in fat and salt and high in essential vitamins and nutrients. | Only 1.1% of the children's packed lunches met all the required nutritional standards for school meals, which include keeping the contents low in fat and salt and high in essential vitamins and nutrients. |
| Lead researcher Charlotte Evans, of Leeds University, said, sadly, the findings were not surprising. | Lead researcher Charlotte Evans, of Leeds University, said, sadly, the findings were not surprising. |
| "It reflects the typical diet of the whole population. Most adults would also have crisps or a chocolate bar and not enough fruit or veg in their lunchbox. | "It reflects the typical diet of the whole population. Most adults would also have crisps or a chocolate bar and not enough fruit or veg in their lunchbox. |
| "There are many initiatives going on to improve our diet and exercise, but change won't happen overnight." | "There are many initiatives going on to improve our diet and exercise, but change won't happen overnight." |
| Sample menus | Sample menus |
| She said banning certain foods from lunchboxes could help, but said this policy could backfire. | She said banning certain foods from lunchboxes could help, but said this policy could backfire. |
| "We've seen it with sweets, when schools have banned them. The children end up bringing more cakes and biscuits with them instead." | "We've seen it with sweets, when schools have banned them. The children end up bringing more cakes and biscuits with them instead." |
| Judy Hargadon of The School Food Trust, an organisation set up to improve the nutrition of school food, said: "Now that nutrient-based standards are in place, parents can be sure that the average school lunch is offering the right mix of energy and 13 nutrients that children need - so we're encouraging more families to give them a try." | Judy Hargadon of The School Food Trust, an organisation set up to improve the nutrition of school food, said: "Now that nutrient-based standards are in place, parents can be sure that the average school lunch is offering the right mix of energy and 13 nutrients that children need - so we're encouraging more families to give them a try." |
| She said the trust had sample menus to help parents. | She said the trust had sample menus to help parents. |