As the countdown to the school year recommences, the timeless appeal of the 'sambo' remains steadfast as an essential component of Irish family life. Recent research*, in collaboration with the Healthy Heroes School Programme and the Irish Bread Bakers Association (IBBA), brings to light the enduring preference for sandwiches as the premier choice amongst parents making their children's school lunches.
The research findings show the unwavering popularity of sandwiches, with an impressive 42% of parents with children in primary or secondary school opting to include them in their little ones' lunchboxes. The blend of versatility, convenience, and nutritional benefits means the sandwich maintains its role as the lunchtime go-to, ensuring students are equipped with the energy required to navigate a bustling term of studies and extracurricular undertakings. And for the prefered filling - a notable 33% of parents choose the timeless ham and cheese pairing, often accompanied by a yogurt and a serving of orange squash.
According to the IBBA study, sandwiches also evoke a profound sense of nostalgia rooted in Irish family culture. This sentiment particularly resonates with parents as they warmly reminisce about their own childhood memories. An impressive 42% of survey participants nostalgically select ham and cheese as their beloved sandwich filling from yesteryears. Furthermore, nearly 1 in 3 respondents (28%) affectionately recall the days when corned beef graced the centre stage of their school lunchboxes.
Developed by teachers and nutrition experts, Healthy Heroes is one of Ireland’s leading school nutrition initiatives. Dr Mary McCreery, a leading Irish consultant nutritionist and dietician behind the IBBA backed programme offers the following tips to parents when it comes to back to school packed 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.
For more tips and school lunch box recipes visit www.healthyheroes.ie
