Experts have urged parents to improve their children’s lunches, after it was revealed four in 10 youngsters are now leaving primary school too fat.
Recent research analysed the school dinners of 3,300 kids and found that 83 percent of calories come from highly processed foods, including frozen pizza, white bread, snack bars and sugary drinks.
Scientists from Imperial College London also found that around 64 percent of calories in hot school lunches were from factory-made products.
Lead researcher, Dr Jennie Parnham, from the School of Public Health at Imperial College London, said: “We need to view these findings as a call to action.”
The expert warned that the cost-of-living crisis may encourage parents to buy cheaper, and more unhealthy options.
She added that taxpayer-funded school meals are a key way of incorporating fruit and vegetables into children’s diets.
The most unhealthy foods identified in their lunches were fizzy drinks, fruit juices and yogurt drinks, claims the study.
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High-calorie drinks can be easily swapped with water, advised Jennie.
Dr Eszter Vamos, from Imperial’s School of Public Health, added: “School meals are critically important in making sure that every child has access to an affordable nutritious meal.
“Children in England consume very high levels of ultra-processed foods, and it is worrying that meals consumed at school contribute to this.”
The experts warned that our children’s “ultra-processed” diet is fuelling the obesity epidemic.
This study is published in the journal Nutrients.
Meanwhile, other scientists have challenged the findings highlighted in the study.
Speaking to The Sun, Professor Gunter Kuhnle from Reading University, said there was no evidence to suggest sandwiches are inherently unhealthy.
The nutrition expert added: “Demonising food is never a good idea – ultra processed foods can play an important role to ensure an affordable supply of healthy food.”
