Healthy eating intervention trial could be rolled out in schools to reduce obesity

A healthy eating ‘intervention’ trial, telling parents what they should pack in their kid’s lunch boxes, could be rolled out in Victorian schools.

Parents could be advised to swap out junk food for healthier options in their kid’s school lunch boxes. Belinda Kosinski, Ella 7, and Max, 9 with their healthy choices. Picture: Tim Carrafa

Aussie parents are packing more than three servings of fatty, sugary, salty snacks in their

children’s lunch boxes a day, a new study has found.

Researchers from the University of Newcastle found so-called “discretionary” snacks in

children’s lunch boxes add more than 3000kjs a day to a child’s diet.

At least 40 per cent of lunch box items are foods such as chips, cakes, chocolate, lollies,

chips, muesli bars and fast food.

Talks are underway to expand a NSW healthy eating intervention trial to other states,

including Victoria. The trial involves parents being sent healthier suggestions for lunch box

items via their school app.

For example, swapping chips with popcorn, shapes with rice cakes and sweet biscuits for

cheese and crackers can save children 600kj a week, according to postdoctoral researcher

Dr Jannah Jones.

“Small changes such as swaps like this can make a big difference,” she said.

The study was conducted with more than 3000 students from 32 primary schools.

Dr Jones said such schemes have the “potential to influence a significant proportion of primary school – aged children, impacting weight status and associated health care costs”.

She acknowledged there could be tension in schools, with some parents saying it was their

role to provide food.

“They think others shouldn’t interfere with that,” she said.

“Our interest is at a population level – it’s up to parents to make their own choices but we

can provide a supportive environment for them,” she said.

Dr Jones said she was pleased with the level of support from schools but surprised by the

number and prevalence of discretionary items.

“Discretionary foods do have their place and we are not saying they can’t be consumed at

all but kids can be supported to consume nutritious foods,” Dr Jones said.

The study was also conducted with lead researcher Dr Rachel Sutherland.

Mother to Max, 9, and Ella, 7, Belinda Kosinksi said: “When you’re a busy mum sometimes you run out of lunch box ideas, so an app that gives you suggestions would be really helpful.”

“It can be easy to pack healthy lunches, but sometimes it just depends on what you’ve got at home.”

The mother of two said she usually fills her kids’ lunch boxes with yoghurt and fresh fruit, but she’ll also throw in chips or something sweet once a week “for a special treat”.

“The lunch boxes come home empty which is a good sign.”

Originally published as Healthy eating intervention trial could be rolled out in schools to reduce obesity