Opening up Australian preschoolers' lunchboxes.
OBJECTIVE
Early childhood services have been identified as key settings for promoting healthy eating and obesity prevention. However, little is known about the obesity-related behaviours of preschool-aged children or food-related policies in these settings. The purpose of this study was to describe the contents of preschoolers' lunchboxes to inform future interventions.


METHODS
Cross-sectional survey of 259 children attending preschools in the Sydney West and Sydney South West regions of New South Wales in 2008. Lunchbox data were collected using a purpose-designed audit tool. Food and beverages were classified as fruit, vegetables, dairy, breads and cereals, 'extra' (energy-dense) foods, 'extra' drinks or water.


RESULTS
Sandwiches and home-cooked meals were the most frequently identified food item, found in 92% of children's lunchboxes, followed by fresh fruit. However, 60% of lunchboxes contained more than one serve of extra food or drink.


CONCLUSIONS
While nutrition guidelines allow one to two serves of extra foods per day for preschool-aged children, the majority of children appear to consume most of this allocation during their school day, potentially contributing to over-consumption of extra foods and excess kilojoule intake.


CONCLUSIONS
Preschool food policies may help to guide the content of children's lunchboxes, however this study emphasises the need for better communication and enforcement of these policies, as well as broader public policy changes.
Kelly
Bridget
B
Physical Activity Nutrition and Obesity Research Group, School of Public Health, University of Sydney, New South Wales. bridgetk@health.usyd.edu.au
Hardy
Louise L
LL
Howlett
Sarah
S
King
Lesley
L
Farrell
Louise
L
Hattersley
Libby
L
D001315:Australia; D001628:Beverages / Q000145:classification / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000502:physiology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005502:Food / Q000145:classification / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005518:Food Preferences; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control; D012574:Schools; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors