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What's in a healthy lunchbox? What's in a healthy lunchbox?
(about 15 hours later)
Ninety-nine out of every 100 packed lunches being eaten by primary school children are reported to be unhealthy and failing to meet nutritional standards.Ninety-nine out of every 100 packed lunches being eaten by primary school children are reported to be unhealthy and failing to meet nutritional standards.
So what should a healthy lunch contain and what foods should be left out?So what should a healthy lunch contain and what foods should be left out?
According to advice from the Food Standards Agency,a healthy packed lunch should include:According to advice from the Food Standards Agency,a healthy packed lunch should include:
• Meat, fish or a dairy source of protein• Meat, fish or a dairy source of protein
• Starchy carbohydrate, such as a wholegrain sandwich, to provide energy• Starchy carbohydrate, such as a wholegrain sandwich, to provide energy
• At least one portion each of a fruit and vegetable or salad• At least one portion each of a fruit and vegetable or salad
• Water or milk to drink, but diluted fruit juice and yoghurt drinks or smoothies are acceptable• Water or milk to drink, but diluted fruit juice and yoghurt drinks or smoothies are acceptable
The key foods to avoid are:The key foods to avoid are:
• Sweets and chocolate• Sweets and chocolate
• Snacks, like crisps, with added salt/sugar/fat• Snacks, like crisps, with added salt/sugar/fat
• Sugary and fizzy drinks• Sugary and fizzy drinks
• Deep-fried foods and processed meats• Deep-fried foods and processed meats
• White bread - if children won't eat brown, try whole white sliced bread• White bread - if children won't eat brown, try whole white sliced bread
SUGAR, FAT AND SALT Sugar: 15g sugar per 100g is high in sugar, 5g or less is lowFat: 20g fat per 100g is high in fat, 3g or less is low Salt: 1.5g salt per 100g is high in salt, 0.3g or less is low Source: Food Standards AgencySUGAR, FAT AND SALT Sugar: 15g sugar per 100g is high in sugar, 5g or less is lowFat: 20g fat per 100g is high in fat, 3g or less is low Salt: 1.5g salt per 100g is high in salt, 0.3g or less is low Source: Food Standards Agency
Nutritional standards for school meals were introduced in 2006 and standards for vending machines, breakfast clubs and tuck shops came into force a year later.Nutritional standards for school meals were introduced in 2006 and standards for vending machines, breakfast clubs and tuck shops came into force a year later.
In 2008, strict nutrition content guidelines for primary schools were introduced and extended to secondary schools in September 2009.In 2008, strict nutrition content guidelines for primary schools were introduced and extended to secondary schools in September 2009.
READ THE SAMPLE MENU Packed lunch menu [526.29 KB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here
They include maximum/minimum levels of energy or calories and 13 different nutrients, including fat, salt and sugars.They include maximum/minimum levels of energy or calories and 13 different nutrients, including fat, salt and sugars.
The Schools Food Trust - an independent body set up to advise schools on healthy eating - says there are no plans to issue statutory guidance on packed lunches, but it has produced some sample lunchbox menus.The Schools Food Trust - an independent body set up to advise schools on healthy eating - says there are no plans to issue statutory guidance on packed lunches, but it has produced some sample lunchbox menus.