scholarly journals Lunchtime food and nutrient intakes of secondary-school pupils; a comparison of school lunches and packed lunches following the introduction of mandatory food-based standards for school lunch

2012 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. 1126-1131 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jo Pearce ◽  
Lesley Wood ◽  
Michael Nelson
Keyword(s):  
Secondary School ◽  
Secondary Schools ◽  
Vitamin C ◽  
School Lunch ◽  
Nutrient Intakes ◽  
School Lunches ◽  
School Food ◽  
Local Authorities ◽  
Eleven State ◽  
Food And Drink

AbstractObjectiveTo compare the key differences between school lunches and packed lunches as eaten in eleven secondary schools in England, 21 months after the food-based standards for school lunch became mandatory, but before the introduction of nutrient-based standards.DesignData on 358 school lunches and 139 packed lunches were collected in May and June 2008 from pupils attending secondary schools in Sheffield, Manchester, Leicester City and Essex. Fieldwork was conducted over five consecutive school days at each school. Fieldworkers randomly selected five pupils taking a school lunch and five pupils bringing a packed lunch each day. All food and drink items chosen by pupils were weighed and recorded. Leftovers were also weighed.SettingEleven state-maintained, co-educational secondary schools from four local authorities in England.SubjectsFour hundred and ninety-seven pupils aged 11–16 years.ResultsPupils taking school lunches, on average, had significantly higher intakes of energy, protein, carbohydrate, NSP, vitamin C, folate, Fe and Zn than pupils bringing a packed lunch to school. Mean intakes of protein, fat and vitamin C from both types of lunch met the nutrient-based standards and school lunches also met standards for carbohydrate, NSP and energy.ConclusionsNutrient intakes from school lunches were more favourable than those from packed lunches, but typically failed to meet nutrient-based standards for school food. A combination of continued improvements to school food, educating pupils to make healthier choices and policies to encourage pupils to eat at school or bring healthier packed lunches is needed.

scholarly journals Short communicationKey differences between school lunches and packed lunches in primary schools in England in 2009

2011 ◽  
Vol 14 (8) ◽  
pp. 1507-1510 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jo Pearce ◽  
Clare Harper ◽  
Dalia Haroun ◽  
Lesley Wood ◽  
Michael Nelson
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin A ◽  
Vitamin C ◽  
Primary Schools ◽  
Representative Sample ◽  
Saturated Fat ◽  
School Lunch ◽  
Nutrient Intakes ◽  
School Lunches ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
Food And Drink

AbstractObjectiveTo compare the key differences between school lunches and packed lunches as consumed in a nationally representative sample of primary schools, 6–8 months after the nutrient-based standards for school lunch became mandatory.DesignData on 6580 pupils’ school lunches and 3422 pupils’ packed lunches were collected between February and April 2009 from pupils attending primary schools in England. Fieldwork was conducted over five consecutive school days. Fieldworkers randomly selected ten pupils taking a school lunch and five pupils bringing a packed lunch each day at each school, and recorded and weighed all food and drink items consumed, as well as any leftovers.SettingA nationally representative sample of 136 state-maintained primary schools in England.SubjectsA total of 10 002 pupils aged 4–12 years.ResultsMean intakes of protein, fat, saturated fat and vitamin C from both types of lunch met the nutrient-based standards. Pupils taking school lunches on average consumed significantly more protein, NSP, vitamin A, folate and Zn and less fat, saturated fat, non-milk extrinsic sugars (NMES), Na, Ca, vitamin C and Fe than pupils taking packed lunches. Energy intakes were low in both groups.ConclusionsPacked lunches were less likely to accord with food-based or nutrient-based standards than school lunches. Higher levels of Na, NMES, fat and percentage energy from saturated fat emphasise the difficulties associated with optimising nutrient intakes from packed lunches.

scholarly journals School lunches v. packed lunches: a comparison of secondary schools in England following the introduction of compulsory school food standards

2013 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. 1037-1042 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lesley Stevens ◽  
Jo Nicholas ◽  
Lesley Wood ◽  
Michael Nelson
Keyword(s):  
Secondary Schools ◽  
Food Choices ◽  
School Lunches ◽  
School Food ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Food Standards ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
Food And Drink ◽  
Average School ◽  
Selection Of

AbstractObjectivesTo compare food choices and nutrient intakes of pupils taking a school lunch or a packed lunch in eighty secondary schools in England, following the introduction of the food-based and nutrient-based standards for school food.DesignCross-sectional data collected between October 2010 and April 2011. Pupils’ lunchtime food choices were recorded over five consecutive days.SettingSecondary schools, England.SubjectsA random selection of 5925 pupils having school lunches and 1805 pupils having a packed lunch in a nationally representative sample of eighty secondary schools in England.ResultsThe differences in the specific types of food and drink consumed by the two groups of pupils are typical of differences between a hot and cold meal. On average, school lunches as eaten contained significantly more energy, carbohydrate, protein, fibre, vitamin A, folate, Fe and Zn than packed lunches, and 8 % less Na.ConclusionsAlthough neither school lunches nor packed lunches provided the balance of nutrients required to meet the nutrient-based standards (based on about one-third of daily energy and nutrient requirements), school lunches generally had a healthier nutrient profile, with lower Na and percentage of energy from fat, and higher fibre and micronutrient content. These differences were greater than those reported prior to the introduction of compulsory standards for school lunches. In order to ensure more pupils have a healthy lunch, schools could introduce and enforce a packed lunch policy or make school meals the only option at lunchtime.

The impact of the food-based and nutrient-based standards on lunchtime food and drink provision and consumption in secondary schools in England

2013 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. 1052-1065 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jo Nicholas ◽  
Lesley Wood ◽  
Clare Harper ◽  
Michael Nelson
Keyword(s):  
Secondary Schools ◽  
Fruit Juice ◽  
School Lunches ◽  
School Food ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
Food And Drink ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Energy And Nutrient Intake ◽  
Selection Of

AbstractObjectivesTo assess lunchtime provision of food and drink in English secondary schools and the choices and consumption of food and drink by pupils having school lunches, and to compare provision in 2011 with that in 2004.DesignCross-sectional data collected between October 2010 and April 2011. In each school, food and drink provision, including portion weights and number of portions of each item served at lunchtime, were recorded over five consecutive days. Caterers provided recipe information.SettingEngland.SubjectsA random selection of 5969 pupils having school lunches in a nationally representative sample of eighty secondary schools in England.ResultsCompared with 2004, significantly more schools in 2011 provided main dishes, vegetables and salads, water, fruit juice and other drinks on 4 or 5 d/week (P < 0·005). The number of schools offering items not permitted under the food-based standards for school food on 4 or 5 d/week fell significantly over time (P < 0·005), while the number not offering these items on any day increased significantly (P < 0·005). Meals eaten by pupils were well-balanced in relation to macronutrients.ConclusionsLunchtime food provision and consumption in secondary schools have improved considerably since 2004, following the introduction of new compulsory standards for school food in 2009. To maximise their energy and nutrient intake at lunchtime, pupils should be encouraged to select a full meal, and to take and eat more fruit and vegetables. Schools also need continued support to increase the micronutrient content of menus and recipes.

scholarly journals School meals in French secondary state schools: do national recommendations lead to healthier nutrition on offer?

2011 ◽  
Vol 107 (3) ◽  
pp. 416-427 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mélanie Bertin ◽  
Lionel Lafay ◽  
Gloria Calamassi-Tran ◽  
Jean-Luc Volatier ◽  
Carine Dubuisson
Keyword(s):  
Secondary Schools ◽  
Vitamin C ◽  
Food Group ◽  
Food Composition ◽  
Nutritional Composition ◽  
Ministry Of Education ◽  
School Meals ◽  
School Lunches ◽  
Group Frequency ◽  
The Impact

To improve the dietary offering in schools, the French authorities published recommendations on nutrition in 1999, which were then revised in 2007. The aim of the present study was to assess the nutritional offering in secondary school meals and the extent to which the recommendations promote balanced nutritional offerings. In 2005, a national survey was conducted on a representative sample of secondary schools, either administrated by the Ministry of Education (ES) or the Ministry of Agriculture (AS). Information on school-catering organisation and twenty consecutive meals was collected from each of the 707 secondary schools surveyed. Nutritional composition was estimated according to the French food composition database. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to investigate the impact of food-group frequency guidelines (FFG) on nutritional offering. It was found that 15 and 26 % of ES and AS schools, respectively, had high compliance with the FFG, at lunch. Macronutrient content was unbalanced in ES school lunches in which 42·8 % lipids, 21·5 % proteins and 35·7 % carbohydrates contributed to the energy. Nevertheless, proper offerings in Fe, Ca and vitamin C content were observed. In addition, a lower offering in lipids and a higher offering in proteins, Ca, vitamin C and Fe were found when the FFG were applied (P < 0·001). Similar results were found for AS schools. This paper confirms the effectiveness of FFG in providing nutritionally balanced school meals. However, others measures such as nutrition promotion and actions to improve children's food habits have to be introduced to make the recommendations more effective and easier to understand.

scholarly journals Relationships between children’s sugar consumption at home and their food choices and consumption at school lunch

2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (16) ◽  
pp. 2941-2949 ◽  
Author(s):  
Khlood Baghlaf ◽  
Vanessa Muirhead ◽  
Cynthia Pine
Keyword(s):  
Primary Schools ◽  
School Lunch ◽  
School Meals ◽  
School Food ◽  
High Sugar ◽  
Parents And Children ◽  
Food And Drink ◽  
Purposive Sample ◽  
Health Programmes ◽  
At Home

AbstractObjective:To investigate the relationships between children’s food and drink choices at school lunch for children who consume high and low sugar intakes at home.Design:Children’s food and drink consumption at home was assessed using diet diaries over three consecutive days. Children were classified as ‘high’ or ‘low’ sugar consumers at home using the WHO recommendation that free sugars should be less than 10 % of their daily total energy intake. A purposive sample of children was then selected and observed during school lunch, recording food selections, food left on plates and content of packed lunches.Setting:Six primary schools in Newham and Kent, England.Participants:Parents and children aged 6–7 years.Results:Seventy-one parents completed diet diaries. From the seventy-one, thirty-nine children were observed during school lunch. Twenty children were high sugar consumers, nineteen children were low sugar consumers; thirty-one children had a school meal. Eleven of the fifteen children (73 %) who had school meals and who were high sugar consumers selected a high-sugar dessert rather than fruit. Only five of the sixteen (31 %) children who had school meals and were low sugar consumers at home chose a high-sugar dessert. Most of the children who had packed lunches had sweet items, despite school policies.Conclusions:Children who consumed high sugar intake at home tended to select foods high in sugar for school meals or had packed lunches containing high-sugar foods. The implications for public health programmes include healthy eating workshops and implementing school food policies.

Adolescents’ school lunch practices as an educational resource

2016 ◽  
Vol 116 (3) ◽  
pp. 292-309 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristiina Henrietta Janhonen ◽  
Johanna Mäkelä ◽  
Päivi Palojoki
Keyword(s):  
Health Education ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
School Lunch ◽  
Study Data ◽  
School Lunches ◽  
School Food ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Social Hierarchies ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Contextual Variation

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine Finnish ninth grade pupils’ (15-16 years) perspectives on hot school lunches and consider the potential of these perspectives as a resource for food and health education. Design/methodology/approach – Data include observations, essays, and visually elicitated focus group discussions from a larger qualitative case study. Data were collected during the term 2012-2013. Findings – Pupils considered the lunch break as their free time and valued discussions with friends. The taste of school food was important for them. Pupils solved contradicting expectations connected to school lunches through constructing social hierarchies, making compromises, and conforming to peers’ or general opinions. Desire for social belonging and independence were important justifications for breaking food-related rules. Research limitations/implications – Due to the focus on one school, further research needs to address contextual variation in different schools and age groups, as well as the viewpoint of teachers. Practical implications – To genuinely engage pupils, potential contradictions between adults’ and adolescents’ perspectives need attention. Understanding food-related social determinants and justifications for food practices from pupils’ perspective are valuable pedagogical assets for teachers. Pupils’ speech and activities that counteract formal aims can be seen also as possibilities for dialogue, rather than merely problems to be changed by adults. Originality/value – The paper describes how pupils’ perspectives to school lunch practices are in tension with the educational aims of school lunches, thus contributing to developing adolescent-centered food and health education in secondary schools.

scholarly journals Energy and nutrient intakes of Swedish children in relation to consumption of and habits associated with school lunch

2016 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine Persson Osowski ◽  
Wulf Becker ◽  
Heléne Enghardt Barbieri ◽  
Anna Karin Lindroos
Keyword(s):  
School Lunch ◽  
Sex Factors ◽  
Food Diary ◽  
Nutrient Intakes ◽  
School Lunches ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Regular School ◽  
Nutrient Density ◽  
Grade 5 ◽  
The Mean

Aims: School lunches are provided free in Sweden, although some children choose not to eat school lunch. The aim of this study was to analyse Swedish children’s total energy and nutrient intakes on weekdays by the frequency of school lunch consumption and to analyse energy and nutrient intakes from school lunches by sex. Factors associated with children’s school lunch habits were also studied. Methods: Children in grades 2 and 5 ( n=1905) completed a food diary (school lunch data available for 1840 children) and the mean energy and nutrient intakes per day and per school lunch were calculated. The children also completed questions on the frequency of school lunch consumption and school lunch habits. Logistic regression was used to assess factors associated with school lunch habits. Results: Children who reported eating school lunch every day had significantly higher energy and absolute nutrient intakes than children reporting eating school lunch less than five times a week, but not standardized for energy. Boys had significantly higher energy and absolute nutrient intakes from school lunches than girls, but not standardized for energy. Younger children and children who liked school lunches had higher odds of eating school lunch every day. Children in grade 5, those with a foreign background and those disliking school lunches had higher odds of omitting the main lunch component. Conclusions: Regular school lunch consumption was associated with a higher total intake for most nutrients, but not a better nutrient density. School lunch habits were associated with age, ethnic background and liking school lunches.

scholarly journals The impact of the food-based and nutrient-based standards on lunchtime food and drink provision and consumption in primary schools in England

2010 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 209-218 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dalia Haroun ◽  
Clare Harper ◽  
Lesley Wood ◽  
Michael Nelson
Keyword(s):  
Primary Schools ◽  
Fruits And Vegetables ◽  
Similar Data ◽  
School Lunches ◽  
School Food ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Zn Content ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
Food And Drink ◽  
The Impact

AbstractObjectiveTo assess lunchtime provision of food and drink in English primary schools and to assess both choices and consumption of food and drink by pupils having school lunches. These findings were compared with similar data collected in 2005.DesignCross-sectional data collected between February and April 2009. In each school, food and drink provision, including portion weights and number of portions of each item served at lunchtime, were recorded over five consecutive days. Caterers provided school lunchtime menus and recipes.SettingEngland.SubjectsA random selection of 6696 pupils having school lunches in a nationally representative sample of 136 primary schools in England.ResultsCompared with 2005, schools in 2009 provided significantly more fruit, fruit-based desserts, vegetables and salad, water and fruit juice, and less ketchup, sauces and gravy, starchy foods cooked in fat, snacks and confectionery (P < 0·01). Pupils were also making healthier choices, choosing an average of 2·2 portions of fruit and vegetables from their ‘five a day’, but about one-third to two-fifths of these were wasted.ConclusionsLunchtime food provision and consumption in primary schools have improved substantially since 2005, following the introduction of new standards for school food in 2008. However, improvements still need to be made to increase the Fe and Zn content and to decrease the Na content of recipes, and in encouraging pupils to eat more of the fruits and vegetables taken at lunchtime.

scholarly journals The quality of midday meals eaten at school by adolescents; school lunches compared with packed lunches and their contribution to total energy and nutrient intakes

2011 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. 1118-1125 ◽  
Author(s):  
Celia J Prynne ◽  
Caroline Handford ◽  
Valerie Dunn ◽  
Diane Bamber ◽  
Ian M Goodyer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Secondary Schools ◽  
Nutrient Content ◽  
School Meals ◽  
Nutrient Intakes ◽  
School Lunches ◽  
Daily Energy ◽  
School Day ◽  
The Government ◽  
Girls School

AbstractObjectiveTo compare food and nutrient intakes from midday meals provided by schools with those from packed lunches and to estimate the contribution from food eaten at midday to the total daily energy and nutrient intakes of teenagers.DesignDietary data were recorded in 4 d estimated diaries of which 2 d were school days. The school day data were analysed for total and midday energy and nutrient intakes. The latter were compared with the recommendations of the Caroline Walker Trust (CWT).SettingCambridgeshire, UK, 2006.SubjectsTeenagers (n 757) aged 14–15 years, from eighteen secondary schools, who reported food eaten at school.ResultsThe contribution to total daily energy intake from all lunches eaten at school was 29 % (boys) and 28 % (girls). School meals provided greater quantities of protein, starch, carotene and folate but also more saturated fats and Na than packed lunches. Intakes of energy and several nutrients fell below the CWT recommendations for both types of lunch. School meals and packed lunches provided different types of foods; greater quantities of rice, pasta and vegetables in school meals; more yoghurt, cheese, fruit and juices but also more confectionery and soft drinks in packed lunches.ConclusionsThere has been concern that schoolchildren who are not opting for lunch provided by schools are compromising the overall quality of their diet, but the present study showed small differences in nutrient content between packed and school lunches. These data were collected in 2005–2007 before the government programme of improvements reached secondary schools.

scholarly journals Nutrient-based standards for school lunches complement food-based standards and improve pupils' nutrient intake profile

2011 ◽  
Vol 106 (4) ◽  
pp. 472-474 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dalia Haroun ◽  
Lesley Wood ◽  
Clare Harper ◽  
Michael Nelson
Keyword(s):  
Primary Schools ◽  
Saturated Fat ◽  
School Lunch ◽  
Overweight And Obesity ◽  
School Lunches ◽  
Nutritional Profile ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
Food And Drink ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Average School

Following concerns about the nutritional content of school lunches and the increased prevalence of overweight and obesity in the UK, changes to the standards of school meals were made. From September 2008, all primary schools in England were required, by law, to be fully compliant with the new food-based standards (FBS) and nutrient-based standards (NBS) for school lunches. The aim of the present survey was to evaluate the introduction of the NBS for school lunches on the nutritional profile of food and drink items provided by schools and chosen by pupils at lunchtime. A nationally representative sample of 6696 pupils from 136 primary schools in England aged 3–12 years and having school lunches was recruited. Data were collected on lunchtime food and drink provision at each school and on pupil food and drink choices at lunchtime. Caterers also provided planned menus, recipes and other cooking information. Compliance with both the FBS and NBS was then assessed. Results show that even when the FBS was met, many schools did not provide a school lunch that met the NBS as well. The average school lunch eaten was significantly lower in fat, saturated fat and Na in schools that met both the FBS and NBS for school lunches compared with schools that met only the FBS. Change in school lunch policy has contributed to improvements in pupils' choices and the nutritional profile of foods selected at lunchtime.

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