Warning to parents as survey finds junk-packed lunchboxes

Published on Tuesday 1 September 2009 21:37

CHOCOLATE bars, biscuits or cakes feature in the majority of children's lunchboxes, a study revealed yesterday.

Parents were advised to think about the nutritional value of the food they give their children after it emerged one in two youngsters were going to school with a packet of crisps in their packed lunches.

Three-quarters of those polled said their children took a packed lunch to school with varying degrees of regularity, while a quarter (25 per cent) said they never did.

The School Lunchbox Nutrition Study by grocery shopping comparison website mySupermarket.co.uk showed 93 per cent of those lunchboxes contained either a fun-size chocolate bar, biscuits or a slice of cake on a daily basis.

Crisps featured in 50 per cent of children's packed lunches, with just 12 per cent of parents including low-fat crisps, while other unhealthy snacks such as processed cheese (29 per cent) found their way into lunchboxes. When it came to sandwiches, 60 per cent of parents admitted choosing white bread over brown.

Dr Mabel Blades, an independent dietician and nutritionist, said: "What children and teenagers eat has an impact on their health, behaviour and ability to learn. It is a shame if young people having a packed lunch miss out on balanced nutrition."

Meanwhile, a separate report found British children are going to school on a junk food breakfast of sweets, snacks and fizzy drinks.

And staggering one in every class of 14 year olds said they go to school puffing on a cigarette, according to a report published by Kellogg's to coincide with National Breakfast Week.