Five decades of children’s packed lunches have been analysed and, despite the rising rates of childhood obesity across the UK, research from Wren Kitchens and Nutritionist, Jenny Edelstein, has found that kids’ lunches are nutritionally healthier today than they were 50 years ago.

According to the study of 2,000 parents, the majority consider children’s packed lunches today to be healthier than when they were young, and what’s included now is more nutritious than the food found in packed lunches in the Seventies.

We asked followers of the Echo Facebook page to tell us what they packed for their children.

Ham and pickle sarnie or wrap, mini Babybel, cucumber with houmous, an apricot yoghurt and drink or strawberries instead of cucumber and houmous. I respect the no crisps or chocolate rule.

Hannah Panrucker

Ham and cheese wrap, couple of Frubes, pack of crisps, cereal bar and some fruit - strawberries and grapes usually... she still spends a few quid a day topping up that with snacks and drinks!

Jennifer David

My daughter has to have packed lunch as she needs to be gluten free and the school only has jacket potato everyday she can have. This gets boring for her.

We have fruity bread bagels sandwiches, fruit yoghurt, raisins, crackers, cheese and jelly. All gluten free and healthy.

Sarah Nairn

I avoid packed lunches completely, all mine love their school dinners.

Nick Webb

My daughter has a buttered wholemeal roll fresh from the bakery at 7am.

I cook her a few little breaded chicken pieces, strawberries or cucumber and a low cal jelly and a drink.

Louise Eagling

Bagels, fruit, yoghurt, raisins and a drink of sugar free juice.

Kim Standage

I remember loving schools dinners when I was young so that’s what my little ones have.

They’re brilliant and they always like what they’re given. If I send a packed lunch in, they might not actually eat it!

Leona Emmett

A small soft wholemeal roll filled with tuna or soft cheese with cucumber, a few raw carrot sticks, three cherry tomatoes, a few peanuts or a few crisps (fewer than a small whole bag), a small fruit pot and a mini pot of fruity fromage frais.

Better still and so long as they are good, let them have school dinners.

Jackie Youngman

What’s wrong with just a sandwich, packet of crisps, piece of fruit and a Penguin bar or something?

All these stupid pre-packed snacks are just gimmicks.

Jacqueline Lucy

Yoghurts make a complete mess of the boxes as they have to bring their rubbish home.

Sometimes they open and don’t finish them, so I avoid them! Mine prefer wraps to sandwiches.

Emma Jeakins

Whatever my kids eat and want in their lunch box they can have.. my kids, so they can have what they like.

Lisa Butler

Sandwich or wrap, Mini Cheddars, Babybels, crisps and a breakfast bar or cake

Dona Shand