Packed lunches
The School Food Trust has produced some information and advice on healthier packed lunches.
Packed lunches
The School Food Trust has produced some information and advice on healthier packed lunches.
Recent research carried out by the School Food Trust, suggests that the nutritional quality of school lunches is benefiting from the introduction of the new food-based standards for school food. These improvements are not reflected in the nutritional quality of packed lunches brought into school. This highlights the potential for inconsistency between the food served in schools and the food brought from home.
The School Food Trust advocates the introduction of Packed Lunch Policies to support healthier eating. Where implemented, after proper consultation with pupils, parents and staff, they offer clear guidance and an opportunity to improve food consumed by all pupils.
The Trust is currently working with schools, caterers and Local Authorities to transform school meals and we believe an effective Packed Lunch Policy which applies similar standards to those for food supplied by the school should be an integral part of any school meal strategy.
Packed Lunch Policies are most effective when introduced as part of a Whole School Food Policy. The Food Standards Agency and the Hampshire Healthy Schools websites have useful information on how to write a Whole School Food Policy and related subjects.
It is National Lunchbox week from the 3rd -7th of September and Teachers and Governors can take a look at our example Packed Lunch Policy to see how packed lunches can support the food-based standards regulating food in schools. There is also a free downloadable packed lunch poster and handout and two draft letters to parents in our consultation with parents section … all of which can be downloaded and edited to suit.
Parents and pupils can gather inspiration from the packed lunch ideas section – three week’s worth of packed lunch ideas that are in line with the standards for food served in schools.
There are also case studies about packed lunches. Read about how Bankside Primary School transformed the contents of their pupils lunchboxes by involving pupils in the decision making process or, how Barnsley PCT has made food fun with Ready Steady Lunchbox.