It’s confirmed – the trusty sandwich is a staple in the school lunchbox right across Ireland. According to new research* as part of the national Healthy Heroes School Programme in association with the Irish Bread Bakers Association (IBBA), 42% of adults with children in primary or secondary school include a sandwich in their child’s lunchbox every single day, with a third making it a ham and cheese. With a previous study from the IBBA showing that a toasted ham and cheese is the nation’s favourite sandwich, it’s clear that the love affair continues for this ingredient combo! Developed by teachers and dieticians, Healthy Heroes is one of Ireland’s most popular school nutrition programs.
Not only is the ritual of the lunchbox sandwich alive and well, but the findings also show that almost a quarter of adults with school-aged children add an extra sandwich to their child's lunchbox on days that are particularly busy with physical activities, which is especially common during this final school term. Nearly 6 in 10 parents report their children participating in 2-3 physical activities per week during this last week of school.
The survey also delved into the nostalgic memories of adults as they reminisced about their own school days and their favourite sandwich fillings from childhood. Ham and cheese emerged as the most preferred sandwich filling, with 42% of respondents claiming it as their top choice. Corned beef also evoked strong memories, with almost a third of respondents saying it was always in their top three preferences of lunchbox sandwich options growing up.
Dr. Mary McCreery, a leading Irish consultant nutritionist and dietitian behind the IBBA backed program, offers the following tips to parents when it comes to school lunches:
- Set a good example by eating healthy foods yourself and make your own lunch at the same time so your child knows how much you enjoy them.
- Introduce new foods without any special comment so your child can make their own mind up if they like them or not.
- Make sure healthy foods are available. Try to offer different foods every day. Shopping in advance is the best way to ensure you have plenty of variety for lunch boxes.
- Include a carbohydrate, a protein, dairy, fruit, and veg.
- Educate your child that school means healthy eating, and treats are for weekends and special occasions.
- Involve your child in the food shopping to encourage them (with the right guidance!) to pick healthy options for their school lunch.
Dr. Mary McCreery's expert advice serves as a valuable resource for parents striving to make healthy choices for their children. For more tips and summer lunchbox recipes visit www.healthyheroes.ie
*Research was conducted by Empathy Research through an online survey across a nationally representative sample of N=1,034 adults aged 18+, of which n=426 have children currently attending primary or secondary school.
