Boston, Massachusetts – New study reveals that home-packed lunch does not meet National School Lunch Program standards.
Home-Packed Lunch
The new study revealed that most of the kids’ home-packed lunches fail to meet the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) standards of nutrition. Based on the research, only 27% of the third and fourth graders’s home-packed lunch met 3 out of 5 nutrition standards of the NSLP. The study was conducted by the Tufts University in Boston’s Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy. Kristie Hubbard, one of the research associates said that the findings were similar with those results from studies conducted across the world. The majority of packed-lunch composed of high-calorie food along with common beverages. Packed-lunches were common than vegetables, fruits, and dairy products. Findings needed an urgent care and attention from corresponding agencies.
Deficiency in Nutrition
Based on the study, a quarter of packed-lunches had nutritional deficiencies. Most of them did not have a starter such as a sandwich for instance. Lunches fell short on protein like cheese and yogurt. However, one third of the lunches included fruits, while 11% included veggies. The findings also revealed that packed-lunches also included snacks such as candies, chips, and cookies. The most typical items brought by the students were sugar-sweetened beverages and snack foods, which need urgent care clinics and nutrition experts to address such issue. Out of ten students, 4 tend to bring lunches than to buy in school cafeterias. Parents gave consent to the research, however, they were not informed of the exact time.
Parents’ Education on Nutrition
Lona Sandon, a clinical nutrition professor and registered dietitian said that a home-packed lunch is not always better than a cafeteria meal. She also noted that the parents’ education level did not seem to affect which food to pack, although 80% of the kids’ parents had a college education. A common misconception among people is that having a higher educational attainment can be translated into better nutritional practices, Sandon noted. Obviously, it was not the case in the new study. As a sort of an urgent care near me program for parents, they should be notified and educated about nutritional values. This will help them in choosing what’s best for their kids.
Healthier Options
While an urgent care clinic may help one way or another, corresponding agencies and parents should work hand-in-hand to achieve healthier options. Hubbard added that following the recommendations of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans will do well. A healthy home-packed lunch must be composed of whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy that which promote better nutrition.
