A THIRD of parents eat their children’s rejected lunchbox for dinner, according to a recent survey.
The survey of 2,000 parents of school-age children took an in-depth look at American children’s taste buds, nutrition and how parents get creative to keep their children fed.
More than one in five parents said their children’s lunches are much more gourmet than when they were children.
However, parents estimate that, on average, 21% of their children’s lunch arrives home uneaten at the end of the day.
And when they’re not eating leftovers (29%), parents said they will offer leftover lunches as an after-school snack (25%) or put them back in the fridge or pantry (22%).
Although 41% admit to throwing away leftovers.
Commissioned by NatureSweet and conducted by Talker Research, the research took a closer look at how school lunches have changed over the years.
There has been a big improvement according to parents, with 43% saying that today’s school lunches are healthier than theirs before, while more than a quarter said there is more variety.
The classic combination of sandwich (61%), chips (56%) and juice (52%) is the most popular lunch among kids today.
When asked about their children’s least favorite foods for lunch, parents listed photo peas (40%) and green beans (36%), as well as tuna salad (36%) and boiled eggs (32%).
But when it comes to kids’ food preferences, parents cited fast foods (50%), fresh foods (38%), foods kids can pack (31%), and mess-free foods (30%) as the biggest factors. for what kids like for lunch.
And parents mainly prioritize nutrients (54%), taste (45%) and cost (33%) when shopping for their children.
The majority of respondents (60%) feel guilty about feeding their children easier, unhealthy foods rather than whole foods due to the fact that they are busy (20%) and picky (21%).
And the situation is multifaceted, as many call themselves “stressed” (30%) and “struggling” (21%) parents.
Therefore, many (79%) have gone to great lengths to keep unhealthy foods away from their children, such as avoiding them in the store (30%), hiding them (18%), and telling white lies (13%).
“As many parents know, it can be challenging to get your kids to eat what’s in their lunch box, especially whole foods,” said Dr. Martin Ruebelt, chief scientific officer at NatureSweet.
“With this study, we wanted to shed light on how parents strive to give their children healthy, nutritious foods and how they get creative to keep them well fed.”
According to the results, the trick is in the presentation: one in three revealed that they buy snacks and foods with fun packaging that they know will cheer up their child.
And a quarter rely on cute containers and lunch boxes.
More than half said their children are more likely to eat food if the packaging features their favorite TV show character.
But appearances aside, parents said they are working to educate their children about wellness by actively teaching them about healthy foods and diets (42%), modeling healthy eating (34%), and prioritizing habits. healthy on the family agenda (31%) .
“Incorporating whole foods and products into your family’s diet and busy lifestyle isn’t as time-consuming as it once was,” adds Dr.
“There are so many healthy on-the-go snack options on the market that incorporate whole foods, like products that are delicious, convenient and, most importantly, kid-approved.”
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
