Pearce Jo, Wall Claire J
Sheffield Business School, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield, UK.
J Hum Nutr Diet. 2025 Jun;38(3):e70066. doi: 10.1111/jhn.70066.
In 2024, 95% of 3-4-year-old children in England attended early years settings (EYS). This study aimed to estimate energy and nutrient content of packed lunches provided for and consumed by children attending EYS, along with food type, cost and level of processing and whether these differed by area deprivation.
An observational cross-sectional weighed intake and nutrient analysis of food and drinks in packed lunches provided to and consumed by children attending eight EYS over 5 days. Food type, packaging and processing were coded and lunch costs calculated.
A total of 67 children ate 185 packed lunches. Lunches included fruit (76.2%) more often than vegetables (38.9%). Lunches in areas of higher deprivation less frequently contained fruit (p = 0.003) or vegetables (p < 0.001), and more frequently contained meat products (p < 0.001), savoury snacks (p < 0.001), cakes/biscuits (p = 0.038) and confectionery (p < 0.001). Use of pre-packaged foods was common (40.1% items), and ultra-processed foods provided 65.5% energy. Overall, lunches provided sufficient fibre and micronutrients, but high protein and excess energy, fat, saturated fat, free sugars and sodium. Provision of most nutrients varied by area deprivation, but consumption in areas of higher deprivation was only higher for free sugars (p = 0.002) and lower for fibre (p = 0.003) and vitamin C (p = 0.003). Median packed lunch cost was £1.26, with no difference by area deprivation (p = 0.422). Healthier lunches were cheaper than less healthy lunches (p < 0.001).
Use of pre-packed, ultra-processed foods was high, and provision of vegetables low. Lunches were high in sodium and free sugars, with less healthy lunches provided in areas of higher deprivation.
2024年，英格兰95%的3至4岁儿童进入了早期教育机构（EYS）。本研究旨在估算早期教育机构儿童所提供和食用的盒装午餐的能量和营养成分，以及食物类型、成本、加工水平，以及这些因素是否因地区贫困程度而异。
对八所早期教育机构的儿童在5天内提供和食用的盒装午餐中的食物和饮料进行观察性横断面称重摄入和营养分析。对食物类型、包装和加工进行编码，并计算午餐成本。
共有67名儿童食用了185份盒装午餐。午餐中包含水果（76.2%）的频率高于蔬菜（38.9%）。贫困程度较高地区的午餐中水果（p = 0.003）或蔬菜（p < 0.001）的含量较少，而肉类产品（p < 0.001）、咸味小吃（p < 0.001）、蛋糕/饼干（p = 0.038）和糖果（p < 0.001）的含量较多。预包装食品的使用很普遍（40.1%的食品），超加工食品提供了65.5%的能量。总体而言，午餐提供了足够的纤维和微量营养素，但蛋白质、能量、脂肪、饱和脂肪、游离糖和钠含量较高。大多数营养素的供应因地区贫困程度而异，但贫困程度较高地区的游离糖摄入量仅较高（p = 0.002），纤维（p = 0.003）和维生素C（p = 0.003）摄入量较低。盒装午餐的中位数成本为1.26英镑，地区贫困程度之间没有差异（p = 0.422）。更健康的午餐比不太健康的午餐便宜（p < 0.001）。
预包装、超加工食品的使用比例很高，但蔬菜的供应量很低。午餐中的钠和游离糖含量很高，贫困程度较高地区提供的午餐不太健康。
