Making sure your child has a healthy diet

8:00pm Tuesday 25th November 2008

MOST parents would love their children to come home from school having eaten a satisfying, hot and healthy lunch.

But for some, the reality is their kids barely touch their school dinners, and some may even use their money to buy unhealthy snacks instead.

In the aftermath of the campaign to improve the quality of school dinners, following criticism from celebrity chef Jamie Oliver, the number of pupils opting to eat food cooked at school has declined.

The take-up dropped by 5 per cent in secondary schools, and “a few per cent” in primaries, according to the School Food Trust, an independent body which aims to improve the quality of food in schools.

Dr Michael Nelson, director of research and nutrition at the trust, says: “On balance, children are more likely to be eating a healthier meal at lunchtime if they have a school meal.”

He stresses a lot of schools, particularly primary schools, have been striving to make meals more attractive to children through tasting sessions and getting them to understand the benefits of healthy food.

Some schools have also improved dining rooms and queueing systems to make the whole school meal experience positive.

“It’s a broad campaign to make sure the children don’t have a mental barrier to the idea school food is good,” says Dr Nelson.

He added school meals have improved since Jamie Oliver campaigned for better standards, but admits: “It’s been a challenge to get children to understand just having what you want every day isn’t necessarily the best way to make choices about what you have to eat.”

The take-up of school dinners in primary schools is now beginning to increase again. In the past school year, 43 per cent of primary school children were having school dinners.

In secondary schools, 37 per cent of pupils had school meals, which was roughly the same amount as the year before.

Most of the remaining pupils were having packed lunches, but is a packed lunch as nutritious as a school dinner?

A study by dietitians from the University of Plymouth into the nutrient content of lunches eaten by children, aged between six and 11 years, showed some major differences.

School meals were much lower in sugar and salt than packed lunches. However, they were also lower in some important minerals, including calcium and iron.

The study also found the iron level in school meals was below the national standard. Lead researcher, dietitian Dr Gail Rees, says: “This research has shown there can be large differences in children’s nutrient intakes, depending on whether they eat school meals or packed lunches.

“Pupils eating school meals were much more likely to eat vegetables, while pupils eating packed lunches ate more fruit.”

In fact, 58 per cent of children having a packed lunch ate fruit, compared to 13 per cent of those eating school dinners. But the packed-lunch brigade were also more likely to eat multiple chocolate items and savoury snacks such as crisps.

Intakes of energy (calories), protein and starchy carbohydrate were found to be very similar for both types of lunch.

However, children taking a packed lunch consumed approximately double the amount of sugar, and 50 per cent more sodium and saturated fat than those having a school meal.

Such high sugar, salt and fat levels could mean parents need more guidance on healthy packed lunches.

Samantha Downes, from NHS South West Essex, suggests feeding your kids’ appetite for learning starts at home.

“Helping your children do well at school starts firstly by making sure they eat a good breakfast,” she says. “This will give them the energy, as well as vitamins and nutrients, to sustain them and help them concentrate.

“Although many foods are marketed as superfoods they are no substitute for a balanced diet, which will contain enough vitamins and minerals to nourish your child’s brain and body.”

An ideal breakfast would be a low-sugar cereal containing wholegrains, such as porridge or wheat, followed by wholemeal toast, because this releases sugar slowly over a longer period, and gives your child energy to concentrate.

An ideal spread is peanut butter, as long as its used sparingly, which contains protein, essential oils, and yeast extracts.

A healthy packed lunch would contain: l A source of protein, like chicken or tuna, to keep a child alert l Carbohydrates, like a pasta salad or a sandwich made with wholegrain bread, for energy l Calcium, like cheese or yoghurt, for healthy bones and teeth l Two portions of fruit and vegetables, for vitamins and minerals l A little fat, like a cereal or chocolate bar, for staying power and as a treat.

Samantha says: “Many children’s packed lunches contain too much fat, sugar and salt, but small changes can make a big difference.

“Your children may take a while to get used to a healthy lunchbox, so it’s important to praise them when they try new foods.

“It’s also a good idea to save things like chocolate, crisps and pastries for the occasional treat.

“Remember though, however healthy food is, it won’t get eaten unless it’s tasty and appealing to your child.”