February 2010 A national study examined what was taken and eaten by primary school children in 2009 and compared with similar data collected in 2005.
A national study carried out by the School Food Trust, the first of its kind since the Government’s new standards came into effect in 2006, has found that the lunches taken by pupils in 2009 were healthier than those of children four years earlier.
The Trust’s survey examined what was taken and eaten by 6,696 children from a nationally representative sample of 136 primary schools between February and April last year. The results were compared with similar data collected in 2005.
Compared with 2005, caterers now provide a more healthy lunch, including more vegetables and salad, starchy foods not cooked in fat (like pasta and rice), fruit, fruit juice, and fruit-based desserts, and fewer desserts without fruit, chips and other starchy foods cooked in fat, and no crisps or confectionery.
By limiting the range of foods to healthier options, pupils now take healthier lunches. For example, the average meal taken now contains over two portions of fruit and vegetables, and is lower in fat, sugar and salt. In consequence, pupils eat healthier meals at lunchtime. For example, fat provides about 29% of lunchtime energy (well below the 35% maximum allowed), and saturated fats provide around 11% (meeting the target). The average sodium content of a meal has dropped by almost one-third since 2005. Reassuringly, average wastage did not increase.
