How parents can avoid major food wastage by packing healthy, appetising school lunch box

New research shows Queensland parents are reporting huge food wastage and associated lunch box guilt en masse. Here’s how the experts say you can beat the school snack conundrum.

Parents are being encouraged to switch up their school snack strategy to avoid “lunch box guilt” this year, as top dietitians reveal how to avoid major food wastage.

Lunch box guilt is a relatively new phenomenon where parents feel pressured to keep their child’s snacks nutritional, interesting and most importantly – eaten.

Brisbane mum Tanzima Azad said her son Diyan-Ul-Mehmud Chowdhury, 5, became bored of his lunches during his first year at school, forcing her to make some fast changes.

“Last year when he was in kindy, I saw he was not eating when I was giving him the same things. The next day when I switched the items he finished it all,” she said.

“It’s really important to provide a balanced lunch, but sometimes you need to give them a few sweets. I try to mix the colours with the fruits and vegetables and he likes it.”

Tanzima Azad with five-year-old son Diyan-Ul-Mehmud Chowdhury. Picture: Steve Pohlner

Research conducted by Brisbane-based food company Golden Circle found 65 per cent of Queensland parents are reporting at least $10-$55 of food wastage per week when lunches are found in the bottom of the school bag.

Almost three-quarters of respondents reported feeling lunch box guilt, with 47 per cent saying they had nutritional concerns for their kids lunches.

In addition, 38 per cent said they felt pressure from lunch box envy between friends, and 27 per cent said they’d like to make lunch content more appealing or have greater variety.

The research also found most Queenslanders faced issues with keeping lunch box food fresh (60 per cent) with many deciding to switch to a bento box style to keep lunches interesting.

School lunch boxes: The dos and don’ts

Dietitian Susie Burrell said parents tend to get overwhelmed when it comes to switching up their kids lunches.

She said and easy lunch box hack was to cut snacks into small shapes, and repurpose leftover food into afternoon tea.

“The only thing we’re looking for is more protein to keep them full and less sugar,” she said.

“A lot of lunch box guilt was due to lunch box envy between kids, so mix it up but be smart in the way you do it, you don’t want to spend a fortune.

“One big tip is use smaller portions, don’t put a whole apple in for each kid and instead of a whole sandwich, cut it into fun shapes.

“Involving them in the process of packing it as well keeps it exciting.”

Dietitian and nutritionist Susie Burrell.

Australian Catholic University nutrition and dietetics senior lecturer Emma Stirling said vegetables and dairy are two areas lunch boxes often fall short on.

“Vegetable intake is still really low in Australian children, the statistics in the last report said only 4-5 per cent of kids eat enough vegetables, so it’s a good idea to slip an extra serve into the lunch box with a dip or as part of a salad,” she said.

“Fruit is always a winner, most kids are meeting the required number of serves per day.

“But dairy is another area where kids fall short on, so including a frozen yoghurt in your child’s lunch box is a great way to boost that food group.”

Ms Stirling said there are varying scales of attitudes towards the humble school lunch box.

“We also have to be mindful of insecurity and families going hungry. The Foodbank 2022 Hunger Report found over 21 per cent of the population had experienced severe food insecurity in the past year,” she said.

This lunch box is healthy, but common allergens like nuts and eggs (pictured above) are now discouraged in a majority of schools. Picture: iStock

“A child may only have a sandwich because that is all their family can give them for the day, and schools can play a role in working through these kinds of issues too.”

Teachers Professional Association of Queensland secretary Tracy Tully said common allergens – such as nuts, eggs, and dairy products – are now discouraged in lunch boxes across the majority of schools.

“Kids will share their lunches and they do that quite readily, without the knowledge that other kids might be anaphylactic,” she said.

“Another thing now is cultural issues around food, a child or their family’s culture or religious beliefs may not allow the consumption of certain meats or products.

“And the other one to watch is foods with red colouring (red dye 40) because they can set kids off and make them hyper.”

There are resources available through Nutrition Australia and Queensland’s Department of Education.

To enter the Golden Circle lunchbox design competition to win a dream lunchbox, click here.