National lunchbox week

Whether yours is a Spiderman lunchbox or sensible Tupperware, it's not only kids who enjoy a packed lunch. More than four billion lunchboxes were eaten last year* by everyone from primary school children to office workers. Recent media and government scrutiny has centred on children's eating habits however it's vital that kids learn healthy eating by example.

To coincide with the start of the school term, this week is National Lunchbox Week, which aims to highlight the importance of healthy eating at a young age and to help parents to create a healthy lunchbox with ease.

The week is all the more relevant as this September will also see the new standards for school food legislation announced by the School Food Trust (SFT) last May, legally enforced in schools. Yet according to the SFT less than 45% of primary and secondary school pupils eat school meals, which means more than half of all school children rely on lunchboxes and food from home.

Nothing conjures up the feeling of the new school year quite like the image of a freshly packed lunchbox so often complete with sandwich, packet of crisps and chocolate bar. Mums and dads may try to give their children healthy lunches, but even the most creative of parents often resort to biscuits and chocolate spreads as a quick fix.

For more healthy lunchbox tips visit: Lunchboxweek

National Lunchbox Week starts on Monday 3rd September.

* in the 12 months ending in November 2006

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