11 September 2008

ADDING UP WITH SCHOOL FOOD

Every parent of every primary school child in Britain is making the same decision this week: school meals or packed lunches. Children have strong views on the subject. But so do teachers, caterers and dietitians (and celebrity chefs!).

A detailed investigation just published in the Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics reports on the nutrient contents of lunches eaten by 120 children aged 6 to 11 years, and shows some surprising differences.

Lead researcher, dietitian Dr Gail Rees from the University of Plymouth, said: “This research has shown that there can be large differences in children’s nutrient intakes, depending on whether they eat school meals or packed lunches. School meals were much lower in sugar and salt, but children taking school lunches also consumed lower amounts of some important minerals, including iron, which was found to be below the level set out in the new nutritional standards for school lunches in England. Pupils eating school meals were much more likely to eat vegetables, while pupils eating packed lunches ate more fruit.”

She added: “Intakes of energy (calories), protein and starchy carbohydrate were found to be very similar in school meals and packed lunches.  However children taking a packed lunch to school consumed approximately double the amount of sugar, and 50% more sodium and saturated fat than those having a school meal. In contrast, intakes of calcium and iron were lower in the school meals group.”

Although children having a packed lunch were much more like to have some fruit (58% versus 13%), they were also much more likely to be eating multiple chocolate items (10% versus 0%) and savoury snacks such as crisps (56% versus 0%).

The research project involved the close observation of a meal at lunchtime of children chosen randomly from four primary schools in Cornwall. Weights of foods and food waste were recorded, and a nutrient analysis programme was used to assess nutrient levels. Although each child was only observed once, the period of recording was over many weeks so different days of a menu cycle were captured.

Sue Kellie, Head of Education and Professional Development at the British Dietetic Association said: “Registered dietitians welcome the nutritional standards for primary school lunches that have just come into force in England, and this will act to reassure parents that take up of school meals can ensure a healthy, nutritious meal for their child, at a reasonable price. However this research shows that more efforts are clearly needed to guide and support parents choosing to provide packed lunches. Resources are available to help schools develop their own voluntary policies to help ensure that children taking school meals and packed lunches are both able to benefit from having a healthy lunch.”

She adds: “Dietitians have a pivotal role to play in the development and monitoring of nutrient standards in schools and can work with the education and catering sectors to ensure that the food experience in schools provides a positive foundation for good nutrition throughout life.”

Practical ways of addition (of healthy foods) and subtraction (of unhealthy foods) are needed to improve the health score of many packed lunches.

Media enquiries to the British Dietetic Association and requests for interviews with dietitians Dr Gail Rees and Sue Kellie should be directed to our media hotline on 0870 850 2517 or pr@bda.uk.com

 - Ends -

NOTES TO EDITORS

  1. Rees, GA, Richards CJ, Gregory J. (2008) Food and nutrient intakes of primary school children: a comparison of school meals and packed lunches. Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics. 21, 420-427
  2. Dr Gail Rees is a registered dietitian at the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Plymouth. She is available for interview. Contact 0870 850 2517 or pr@bda.uk.com
  3. The Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics is the official journal of the British Dietetic Association. http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/loi/jhn
  4. The British Dietetic Association founded in 1936 is the professional association for registered dietitians in Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It is the nation’s largest organisation of food and nutrition professionals with nearly 6 000 members. About two-thirds of members are employed in the National Health Service. The remaining members work in education, industry, research, sport settings or freelance.
  5. Registered dietitians hold the only legally-recognisable graduate qualification in nutrition and dietetics. They are experts in interpreting and translating the science of nutrition into practical ways of promoting nutritional well-being, disease treatment and the prevention of nutrition-related problems. Their advice is sound and based on current scientific evidence. Registration, awarded by the Health Professions Council, is an indication that a dietitian is fit to practise and is working within an agreed statement of conduct. For further details about the British Dietetic Association, please visit our website: www.bda.uk.com

 

BDA news items | Press and Media index page