Impact of school lunch type on nutritional quality of English children's diets.
OBJECTIVE
Nutrient and food standards exist for school lunches in English primary schools although packed lunches brought from home are not regulated. The aim of the present study was to determine nutritional and dietary differences by lunch type.


METHODS
A cross-sectional survey was carried out in 2007 assessing diet using the Child and Diet Evaluation Tool (CADET), a validated 24 h estimated food diary. The data were analysed to determine nutritional and dietary intakes over the whole day by school meal type: school meals and packed lunches.


METHODS
Fifty-four primary schools across England.


METHODS
Children (n 2709) aged 6-8 years.


RESULTS
Children having a packed lunch consumed on average 11·0 g more total sugars (95 % CI 6·6, 15·3 g) and 101 mg more Na (95 % CI 29, 173 mg) over the whole day. Conversely, children having a school meal consumed, on average, 4·0 g more protein (95 % CI 2·3, 5·7 g), 0·9 g more fibre (NSP; 95 % CI 0·5, 1·3 g) and 0·4 mg more Zn (95 % CI 0·1, 0·6 mg). There was no difference in daily energy intake by lunch type. Children having a packed lunch were more likely to consume snacks and sweetened drinks; while children having a school meal were more likely to consume different types of vegetables and drink water over the whole day.


CONCLUSIONS
Compared with children having a school meal, children taking a packed lunch to school consumed a lower-quality diet over the whole day, including higher levels of sugar and Na and fewer vegetables. These findings support the introduction of policies that increase school meal uptake.
1Nutritional Epidemiology Group,School of Food Science & Nutrition,University of Leeds,Leeds LS2 9JT,UK.
Charlotte E L
CE
Evans
1Nutritional Epidemiology Group,School of Food Science & Nutrition,University of Leeds,Leeds LS2 9JT,UK.
Vera
V
Mandl
2School of Health and Wellbeing,Leeds Beckett University,Leeds LS1 3HE,UK.
Meaghan S
MS
Christian
1Nutritional Epidemiology Group,School of Food Science & Nutrition,University of Leeds,Leeds LS2 9JT,UK.
Janet E
JE
Cade
D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis; D060766:Drinking Water; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D005522:Food Services; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D062409:Lunch; D008297:Male; D009753:Nutritive Value; D012574:Schools; D012982:Sodium, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis; D006113:United Kingdom; D014675:Vegetables; D015032:Zinc / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis
D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D060766:Drinking Water; D012982:Sodium, Dietary; D015032:Zinc
Children; Dietary quality; Food intake; Nutrients; Packed lunch; School meal