Abstract
Objective
To examine factors influencing parents' selection of packed lunches over a school
lunch, their choices in food preparation, and the role of children within these.
Design
A qualitative approach using semistructured focus group and individual interviews.
Setting
Four primary schools in a UK local authority.
Participants
Twenty parents providing a packed lunch for their children (aged 5–11 years).
Analysis
An inductive thematic approach was used to identify categories and themes. The researchers
maintained rigor in the data analysis through internal discussion and review until
consensus was reached.
Results
Children emerged as active decision makers exerting substantial power particularly
in the initial decision to have a packed lunch, and then in influencing the lunch's
contents. The packed lunch could be a source of anxiety for some parents; however,
ultimately parents' attitudes and perceptions revolved around the key requirement
that the lunch was eaten. Providing a packed lunch was a means of achieving this.
Conclusions
This study highlights children's growing authority over everyday food decisions. Further
research is needed to explore children's perceptions of their role in food provision.
The study's findings have implications for school food, nutrition education, and school-based
interventions. Frameworks that look to improve children's nutrition in this area should
reflect children's growing status as food decision makers and consider how this can
be employed to support and sustain positive changes.
Key Words
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
December 17,
2017
Footnotes
Conflict of Interest Disclosure: The authors' conflict of interest disclosures can be found online with this article on www.jneb.org.
Identification
Copyright
© 2018 Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior. Published by Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved.
