Science of lunch boxes unpacked – why kids waste so much food
A study involving almost 700 primary and preschool students has revealed what kids often refuse to eat – and how mums and dads can limit lunch box waste.
Parents across the country are left disappointed and frustrated each day when their child comes home after school with a lunch box full of uneaten food.
They may feel rejected after packing a healthy and balanced selection of snacks, fruit and vegetables, only for it to be wasted.
But Deakin University public health and nutrition expert Dr Neha Lalchandani shared secrets to increase the odds the food parents are packing gets eaten each day.
She was among researchers to analyse 673 lunch boxes of students aged 3 to 13 to determine which foods went uneaten and wasted.
Students across socio economic backgrounds in 23 South Australian public preschools and primary schools consistently had a combination of sandwiches, fruit and various snacks in their lunch boxes.
Vegetables were consistently “the most wasted category” of food as preferences played a large role in what was left uneaten.
“If there’s something more appealing like a fruit, that’s sweeter, that would probably be their first option,” Dr Lalchandani said.
“Maybe the sad carrot stick is what gets left behind.”
Other factors affecting wastage included portion size, the length of break times and what foods were paired with.
“What are you mixing and matching and pairing your core foods with?” she said.
“If it’s just a carrot stick, sure, but is there maybe a hummus next to it to increase its appeal?”
Dr Lalchandani advised parents could speak to their children so they “vocalise what they’d like to eat and how much time they have to eat a specific item”.
She suggested they begin “monitoring what goes out and what comes back in” each day.
Her study did not account for children who may eat food in their lunch box after they come home.
This could be a solution for children reluctant to eat vegetables at school as parents could find “other creative ways to incorporate food items” at home.
She also encouraged encouraging older children to pack their own lunch boxes so “they get to be decision makers in the packing process”.
“That’s more likely to lead to less wastage,” Dr Lalchandani said.
Single serve packaged items were the least wasted item.
She believed it was because “they’re more tasty compared with vegetables” but also portion size played a factor.
“If kids are able to finish a single serve item, that just means that portion was probably accurate for them,” Dr Lalchandani said.
Rotating options may also prove successful.
“Avoid repeating veggies as eating the same veggie daily equals boredom and waste,” she said.
“Parents could occasionally swap in something new like edamame, sugar snap peas, bell pepper strips as colours and novelty may keep interest alive.”
Richmond Primary School year 6 student Samantha loves to eat traditional food like samosa, spring rolls and curry.
“Their nutritious flavours are delicious and healthy,” the 11-year-old said.
What’s your secret to getting kids to eat everything in their lunch box? Leave a comment below or email education@news.com.au
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Originally published as Science of lunch boxes unpacked – why kids waste so much food
