Children are choosing healthier lunches at school, says report

The study, which is the first of its kind since the Government's new standards came into effect in 2006, has found that the lunches taken by pupils in 2009 were healthier than those of children four years earlier, with almost three quarters of pupils' average lunches including vegetables or salad. The Trust's survey examined what was taken and eaten by 6,696 children from a nationally representative sample of 136 primary schools between February and April last year. The results were compared with similar data collected in 2005. Some 74% of pupils are now taking servings of vegetables and salad with their lunch, compared with 59% in 2005. On average, children in 2009 took more than two of their '5-a-day' as part of their school lunch, eating an average of 1.6 portions. Further figures revealed that the overall amount of food that children are leaving on their plates hasn't increased and the average meal met around 10 of the 14 nutrient-based standards. The Trust's chief executive, Judy Hargadon, said: "This is the first time we've been able to measure the impact of the new school food standards on what primary age children are actually taking and eating for lunch – and we're delighted to see the progress that's been made. "Caterers across the country deserve an enormous pat on the back for the huge shift in what's being offered to children, and for all they've done to encourage kids to give healthier options a try." "The figures certainly show that there's still a lot of work to do, both in fully meeting the standards and in encouraging children to eat what's on their plate, but everyone involved with school food in primary schools can feel proud of what's been achieved so far."