The Packed Lunch Project revolves around parents’ preference for providing packed lunches for their children in primary schools. Our study aims to gain an insight into parents' viewpoints in order to inform our knowledge and understanding of this key aspect of child nutrition. As part of this study we designed an online survey; the data collected is summarised in this report

Ensaff, H

Mahoney, K

English

Leeds Beckett Repository

 The PACKED LUNCH Project PARENT SURVEY    Acknowledgements  We are grateful to the parents who participated and gave their time and thoughts. We would also like to thank the schools, Local Authorities, organisations and parents who supported us in publicising our survey. This survey was funded by Leeds Metropolitan University.      CONTENTS  The Packed Lunch Project 1 The Survey 1 Key Points 2 Packed Lunches – Key Factors 4 Packed Lunches – Contents 5 Packed Lunches – Costs and Child Involvement 11 School Policies around Packed Lunches 12 Universal Infant Free School Meals (UIFSM) 14               The Packed Lunch Project  | Parent Survey                                                                                                                                                                 1   This report outlines the data collected from an online survey of parents, conducted as part of a research study: The Packed Lunch Project. The Packed Lunch Project The Packed Lunch Project revolves around parents’ preference for providing packed lunches for their children in primary schools. Our study aims to gain an insight into parents' viewpoints in order to inform our knowledge and understanding of this key aspect of child nutrition. As part of this study we designed an online survey; the data collected is summarised in this report. The Survey  The survey was conducted to explore parents’ motivations for sending their children to primary school with a packed lunch, as well as an exploration of what parents choose to include. Our survey was in four main parts: Packed Lunches; Your Child’s Most Recent Packed Lunch; Packed Lunches and You; and Packed Lunches and your Child’s School. We asked parents for their views on packed lunches, why they chose to send their children to school with a packed lunch or otherwise, what they chose to include in their child’s most recent packed lunch, and how they chose the foods they included. Other questions related to the Universal Infant Free School Meals initiative and packed lunch policies at schools.   The online survey was open during May and June 2014, and 1291 parents took part from across England.  For all data provided, the question is listed along with the percentage of responses, as well as the total number of respondents; this varied as the survey routed participants at points depending upon their response to certain key questions, and not all participants answered all questions asked.       The Packed Lunch Project  | Parent Survey                                                                                                                                                                 2   Key points  The survey was conducted during May and June 2014, and over 1000 parents with children attending primary schools in England participated.    Parents were asked about packed lunches including details of the contents of their child’s most recent packed lunch, as well as how they chose what to put in them.    Sandwiches were the mainstay in the majority of lunchboxes (88%). The mean number of fillings in a sandwich was 2.2 and the most popular fillings (excluding margarine / butter) were ham (44%), cheese (26%) and cucumber (20%). The majority of parents (92%) included a piece of fruit in their child’s lunch box, with grapes (39%) and apples (34%) being the most popular. Nearly half of parents (47%) also reported including a vegetable / salad snack. Most parents (70%) included a yogurt / fromage frais item with the most popular choice being pouches of fromage frais or yogurt, e.g. Frubes and Tubes. Cheese snacks were also included in more than a third of lunches with Babybel (15%) and Cheestrings (12%) being the most popular. More than half of parents reported that their child’s packed lunch contained a savoury snack, with potato crisps (19%) and potato starch snacks e.g. Hula Hoops, (12%) accounting for most of these. Six out of 10 parents included a confectionery / sweet / biscuit; a chocolate covered biscuit bar e.g. KitKat was the most popular (14%), followed by cereal bars (11%) and cake (10%). The overwhelming majority of parents included a drink; the most common drink was tap water (38%), followed by diluted squash (27%).   On average, parents estimated spending £1.42 on a packed lunch for their child.    Of parents who sent their children to school with a packed lunch, most did so for 5 days a week, whilst almost a quarter did so for only 2, 3 or 4 days. Parents reported that a key factor for the variation was the school menu for that day.   More than 70% of parents were aware of a policy around packed lunches at their child’s school. Of these, 77% were in favour of the policy.  Of those parents who were not aware of, or did not have a policy around packed lunches at their child’s school, only 47% were in favour of packed lunch policies.    83% of parents knew about the Universal Infant Free School Meals (UIFSM) initiative (which came into effect in September). For parents with children affected by the UIFSM, 47% said that they intended to take up the offer fully, whilst an additional 23% said they would for some days of the week.    Parents felt that the most important reasons for sending their children to primary school with a packed lunch revolved around providing a healthy and high quality lunch, as well as ensuring that their child had enough to eat and knowing how much was actually eaten.    In selecting what to put into packed lunches, parents considered the freshness and taste of the food and drink, as well as whether their child liked the items. Parents felt that they understood about healthy eating and a balanced diet, and reported being happy with the content of the packed lunch that they provided.   It is important to note that the survey was conducted online and participants selected themselves to take part. Generalising to the wider population may be limited and should be carefully considered.     The Packed Lunch Project  | Parent Survey                                                                                                                                                                 3   Your child’s gender: Respondents: 1291 parents  Your child’s year group: Respondents: 1291 parents              During an average week, on how many days does your child take a packed lunch to school?  Respondents: 1074 parents providing a packed lunch               Why does your child have a packed lunch on some days and a school dinner on other days? (Please tick any that apply) Respondents: 299 parents providing a packed lunch on 1 – 4 days during an average week                 * ‘other’ reasons included after school activities & cost     5 days 72% 4 days 10% 3 days 9% 2 days 5% 1 day 4% Reception 23% Year 1 20% Year 2 17% Year 3 11% Year 4 10% Year 5 9% Year 6 10% Boy 53% Girl 47% 57% 23% 10% 24% 17% It depends on the school menu forthat dayMy child prefers to havea mix of packed lunches& school dinnersI like my child tohave a varietyof foodsI like my child tohave a hot mealfor some lunch timesOther*  The Packed Lunch Project  | Parent Survey                                                                                                                                                                 4   Packed Lunches – Key Factors Why does your child take a packed lunch to school?  How important (or not) are these reasons?                  Choosing which food & drink to put into your child’s packed lunch:  How important (or not) are these reasons?          Packed lunches: parents’ perspectives              Respondents: 1074 parents providing a packed lunch  9% 11% 13% 22% 37% 36% 42% 51% 55% 47% 53% 61% 5% 17% 21% 15% 21% 28% 31% 27% 21% 34% 36% 31% 6% 22% 24% 21% 17% 17% 18% 14% 12% 12% 8% 6% 81% 50% 43% 42% 25% 19% 9% 9% 12% 7% My child has special dietary requirementsMy child wants a packed lunch because his/her friends have oneLunch time is shortMy child is very particular about the foods he/she will eatMy child prefers a packed lunch over school dinnersValue for moneyI can control what my child eats for lunchI can check how much my child has eaten for lunchMy child has a hot main meal in the eveningI can make sure my child has enough to eatI can provide a high quality packed lunchI can provide a healthy packed lunchVery Important Quite Important Slightly Important Not important8% 16% 26% 30% 36% 58% 61% 67% 67% 76% 15% 40% 34% 36% 34% 38% 33% 28% 30% 22% 25% 30% 27% 19% 19% 5% 52% 14% 13% 14% 11% The brand of the food & drinkConvenienceMy child asks for the food & drinkValue for moneyMy child is familiar with the food & drinkHow healthy the food & drinks areThe quality of the ingredients in the food & drinkMy child likes the food & drinkTasteThe freshness of the food & drinkVery Important Quite Important Slightly Important Not important5% 10% 27% 31% 34% 36% 41% 76% 7% 19% 18% 37% 45% 58% 58% 55% 24% 42% 49% 46% 28% 20% 8% 5% 48% 28% 26% 7% A lot of the contents of my child's packed lunch is wastedIt takes a lot of time and effort to produce a packed lunchI would prefer my child to have a school dinnerI would prefer to include some healthier alternatives in my child's packed lunchI would prefer the contents of my child's packed lunch to be more variedI think my child's most recent packed lunch was healthy and balancedOverall I am happy with the contents of my child's packed lunchMy child understands about healthy eating and a balanced dietI understand about healthy eating and a balanced diet for my childStrongly Agree Agree Disagree Strongly Disagree  The Packed Lunch Project  | Parent Survey                                                                                                                                                                 5   Packed Lunches – Contents Did your child’s most recent packed lunch contain a sandwich? Respondents: 1073 parents providing a packed lunch             What bread was used in the sandwich? Respondents: 939 parents providing a sandwich  in their child’s most recent packed lunch              White 28% 50 / 50 27% Wholemeal 24% Brown 8% Multigrain 5% Granary 4% Other 2% High fibre white 2% Sliced bread 60% Bread roll 18% Wrap 12% Other 7% Pitta 3% Yes  88% No  12%   The Packed Lunch Project  | Parent Survey                                                                                                                                                                 6   What was the filling in the sandwich?  (Please tick any that apply, e.g. if it was a cheese and tomato sandwich in buttered bread please tick cheese and tick tomato and tick margarine/butter) Respondents: 935 parents providing a sandwich in their child’s most recent packed lunch                              Did your child's lunch contain any of the following?  (Please tick any that apply) Respondents: 1074 parents providing a packed lunch                   2.2 was the mean number of fillings in sandwiches 1% 3% 4% 4% 5% 5% 6% 9% 11% 12% 14% 20% 26% 44% 60% No FillingHoumousEggJamMarmiteCheese SpreadTomatoTuna mayonnaiseLettuceChickenOtherCucumberCheeseHamMargarine/Butter15% 7% 7% 4% 1% 3% Salad,e.g. pastasaladDairyleaLunchables or equivalentPeperami Pie / pasty /sausage rollPizza Leftovers  The Packed Lunch Project  | Parent Survey                                                                                                                                                                 7   Did your child's packed lunch contain any of the following fruit?  (Please tick any that apply) Respondents: 1074 parents providing a packed lunch                      ‘other fruit’ as provided by parents included blueberries (4%), melon (2%) & pineapple (2%)        Was any of the fruit prepared? e.g. slices of fruit or a fruit bag Respondents: 908 parents providing fruit in their child’s most recent packed lunch        1.5 was the mean number of different fruit in a packed lunch   92% of parents included fruit in their child’s most recent packed lunch All whole fruit 64% Prepared fruit - home 29% Prepared fruit -  shop bought 6% Prepared fruit - home & shop bought 1% 39% 34% 24% 19% 19% 17% 12% 5% GrapesAppleStrawberriesOther fruitBananaRaisinsTangerineKiwi  The Packed Lunch Project  | Parent Survey                                                                                                                                                                 8   Did your child's packed lunch contain any of the following vegetable / salad snacks? (Please tick any that apply) Respondents: 1074 parents providing a packed lunch                     Did your child's packed lunch contain any of the following yogurt / fromage frais items? (Please tick any that apply) Respondents: 1074 parents providing a packed lunch                             70% of parents said their child’s packed lunch contained a yogurt or fromage frais 47% of parents said lunchboxes contained a vegetable / salad snack 31% 18% 13% 7% 5% 4% 1% Fromage frais pouches, e.g. Frubes, ChoobsYogurt pouches, e.g. TubesFromage frais pot, e.g. Petits FilousFlavoured yogurt potOther yogurt / fromage fraisDrinking yogurt, e.g. YopPlain yogurt pot3% 3% 5% 18% 21% 27% Celery sticksOtherPepper sticksCherry tomatoesCarrot sticksCucumber sticks  The Packed Lunch Project  | Parent Survey                                                                                                                                                                 9   Did your child's packed lunch contain any of the following cheese snacks?  (Please tick any that apply) Respondents: 1074 parents providing a packed lunch                        Did your child's packed lunch contain any of the following savoury snacks?  (Please tick any that apply) Respondents: 1074 parents providing a packed lunch                        Cheese snacks were included in more than a third of packed lunches 53% of parents said they included a savoury snack in their child’s packed lunch  19% 12% 10% 7% 5% 5% 3% Potato crispsPotato starch snacks, e.g Hula Hoops, QuaversSavoury biscuits / Crackers, e.g. Mini CheddarsCorn based snacks, e.g. WotsitsOther savoury snacksRice cakes / Oat cakesNuts / Seeds15% 12% 7% 4% 2% 2% BabybelCheestringsHome prepared cheese, e.g. cubesDairylea Dunkers or equivalentOther cheese snacksCheese triangles, e.g Dairylea  The Packed Lunch Project  | Parent Survey                                                                                                                                                                 10   Did your child's packed lunch contain any of the following confectionery / sweets? (Please tick any that apply) Respondents: 1074 parents providing a packed lunch                          Did your child's packed lunch contain any of the following drinks? (Please tick any that apply) Respondents: 1074 parents providing a packed lunch                               60% of packed lunches included confectionery / sweets 97% of parents included a drink 14% 11% 10% 7% 7% 5% 5% 3% 3% 2% 2% Chocolate covered biscuit bar, e.g. KitkatCereal bar, e.g. Chewee barCakeCake bar, e.g. Galaxy cake barBiscuit, e.g. Rich TeaChocolate biscuit, e.g. Jaffa CakeYogurt coated raisinsJelly potOtherWafer biscuitChocolate bar, e.g. Milky Way38% 27% 21% 11% 5% 5% 2% 2% 1% 1% Tap waterDiluted squashPure fruit juiceJuice drinkSmoothieBottled waterFlavoured waterOtherFlavoured milk shakePlain milk  The Packed Lunch Project  | Parent Survey                                                                                                                                                                 11   Packed Lunches – costs and child involvement On average, how much would you estimate it costs you to provide one packed lunch for your child? Respondents: 1043 parents providing a packed lunch                          Does your child help to prepare  his / her packed lunch? Respondents: 1068 parents providing a packed lunch             When shopping, does your child help  choose the items for his / her packed lunch? Respondents: 1070 parents providing a packed lunch       No 49% Yes, occasionally 39% Yes, often 9% Yes, always 3% No 24% Yes, occasionally 48% Yes, often 23% Yes, always 5% The estimated average cost for one packed lunch was £1.42 0.9% 7.3% 18.9% 20.7% 16.9% 9.9% 11.9% 8.7% 3.4% 0.9% 0.2% 0.5% Less than 50p50p - 75p76p - £1£1.01 - £1.25£1.26 - £1.50£1.51 - £1.75£1.76 - £2.00£2.01 - £2.50£2.51 - £3.00£3.01 - £4.00£4.01 - £5.00More than £5  The Packed Lunch Project  | Parent Survey                                                                                                                                                                 12   Yes  73% No 8% I don't know 19% School Policies around Packed Lunches Does your child's school have a 'packed lunch policy' that discourages or bans certain foods and drinks?                     Respondents: 1291 parents  Respondents: 935 parents who were aware of   a packed lunch policy at their child’s school      Parents aware of a packed lunch policy at their child’s school:  Are you in favour of the packed lunch policy? Respondents: 935 parents who were aware of a packed lunch policy at their child’s school               Remaining parents:  Are you in favour of a packed lunch policy? Respondents: 350 parents who were not aware of or did not have a packed lunch policy at their child’s school   No 3% I don't know 24% Sometimes 16% Yes 57% Is the packed lunch policy  implemented by the school? Yes 77% No 15% I don't know 8% Yes 47% No 32% I don't  know 21%   The Packed Lunch Project  | Parent Survey                                                                                                                                                                 13   At your child's school, can children bringing in a packed lunch eat with children having school dinners? Respondents: 1283 parents                   Do you think schools should be able to ban packed lunches so that all children must have a school meal?  Respondents: 1288 parents           Yes 6% No 89% I don't know 5% Yes 51% No  29% I don't know 20%   The Packed Lunch Project  | Parent Survey                                                                                                                                                                 14   Universal Infant Free School Meals (UIFSM) Did you know that from September 2014 all children in England in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 will be offered a free school lunch? Respondents: 1285 parents              Parents with children affected by UIFSM:  Will you be taking up the offer of a  free school lunch?  Respondents: 554 parents with children affected by UIFSM              Parents with children not affected by UIFSM: If your child were offered a free school lunch, would you take up the offer? Respondents: 731 parents with children not affected by UIFSM          Yes 83% No 17% Yes  47% Partly - for some days of the week 23% I'm not sure 19% No 11% Yes 45% Partly - for some days of the week 24% I'm not sure 14% No  17%                                                                  The brands in the image and text are for illustrative purposes only;  inclusion does not imply endorsement of the brand owners by the authors.  October 2014 For more information contact:  H.Ensaff, Research Fellow, School of Health and Wellbeing, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds, LS1 3HE Email: h.ensaff@leedsbeckett.ac.uk    

The Packed Lunch Project: Parent Survey

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