PARENTS URGED TO ‘THINK OUTSIDE THE LUNCHBOX’!

A new survey has revealed a worrying increase in the prevalence of treats such as sweets, lollies, chocolate and potato chips as a staple part of children’s lunchboxes.

The annual Lunchbox Survey by Bakers Delight reported that up to 40 per cent of parents fill out their kids lunchboxes everyday with items high in sugar and fat, compared to just 23 per cent in 2007.

While 52 per cent of parents say they do include healthy options in lunchboxes each day, nearly 60 per cent suspect their children throw these healthy options away or swap them for unhealthy treats once they are at school.

Additionally, 60 per cent of parents believe children will eat more healthy foods if they are involved in choosing them, but only 30 per cent currently involve their children in packing their own lunch.

Sharon Natoli, Accredited Practising Dietitian and Director of Food & Nutrition Australia said the survey results showed parents were relying too heavily on unhealthy treats to make up for a lack of variety in lunchbox staples.

“While there has been an increase in unhealthy snacks, it’s reassuring to see 96 per cent of parents surveyed regularly give their children sandwiches for lunch. However, the survey showed that two thirds are constantly falling back to a basic cheese or savoury spread sandwich,” said Sharon.

“The school lunchbox is a great opportunity for parents to boost children’s intake of fibre as well as other essential nutrients, but it’s not being leveraged to its full potential. As a result, children can be missing out on a balanced and nutritious lunch, and the essential nutrients they need to keep energy levels up throughout the day.

“A good incentive for parents is to know that if lunchboxes are filled with healthy sandwiches and snacks, children are less likely to demand unhealthy extras,” Sharon concluded.

In response to the research findings, Bakers Delight is launching a new lunchbox initiative designed to help parents ‘think outside the lunchbox’ and inject some healthier and more varied choices back into children’s midday meal.

The new initiative will provide parents with easy ways they can improve kids’ lunchboxes, and help them to translate recommended daily nutrient intakes into real lunches for children.

For example, simply adding two slices of Bakers Delight’s freshly baked preservative free wholemeal bread, provides over a quarter of the adequate intake of fibre recommended daily for a child aged four to eight, and around a fifth for kids aged nine to thirteen years old.

Bakers Delight is also offering simple sandwich suggestions rich in vegetables, cheese, fresh meats and fish to help parents boost children’s intake of nutrients such as calcium, vitamin A, zinc and folate, and will provide tips on how parents can involve children in creating their own lunchboxes and increase the likelihood of healthy options being consumed.

“Research shows that the poor quality of our kids’ diets is a real concern,” said Chris Caldwell, general manager of marketing for Bakers Delight.

“Our survey demonstrated that while parents understand the health benefits of reducing fat and sugar content and adding more fibre into kids’ diets, this is not being put into practice.

“As a father I understand parents are pressed for time, and that kids can be very fussy when it comes to food, but there are easy changes parents can make such as choosing high fibre low GI white bread for longer lasting energy instead of a basic variety,” Chris said.

For more information parents can visit www.bread4health.com.au or head down to their local Bakers Delight. Further information is available in the attached document - LUNCHBOX IDEAS