Packed lunches taken to school by seven-year-olds in 2000 were even less healthy than school meals at the time, a study has suggested. Dr Pauline Emmett who is in charge of the nutritional element of The Children of the 90s study said the packed lunches were high in fat and sugar.
"They also fell short on nutrients like potassium and zinc. What they ate for the rest of the day didn't compensate."
School meals in 2000 had higher protein and minerals and less fat.
'Change of attitude'
The study showed packets of crisps and chocolate biscuits were the most commonly eaten food in the packed lunches, after white bread with some sort of fat-based spread.
Fruit and vegetable intakes were low in packed lunches - 59% of children did not have fruit and 84% did not have a salad vegetable.
Dr Emmett added: "We need to be looking towards a change of attitude to the food we eat ourselves and particularly the foods we are willing to give out children to eat."
The Children of the 90s study - run by the University of Bristol - is aimed at identifying ways to optimise the health and development of children.
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