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ARS Home » Plains Area » Houston, Texas » Children's Nutrition Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #416316
Research Project: Preventing the Development of Childhood Obesity

Location: Children's Nutrition Research Center

Title: The quality of lunches brought from home to school: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Author
item SONG, SIWAN - University Of Wisconsin
item TABARES, ELIZABETH - Texas A&M University
item ISHDORJ, ARIUN - Texas A&M University
item CREWS, MOLLY - Texas A&M University
item DAVE, JAYNA - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC)

Submitted to: Advances in Nutrition
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/7/2024
Publication Date: 6/12/2024
Citation: Song, S., Tabares, E., Ishdorj, A., Crews, M., Dave, J. 2024. The quality of lunches brought from home to school: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Advances in Nutrition. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.advnut.2024.100255.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.advnut.2024.100255

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: This systematic review and meta-analysis, spanning studies published between 1995 and 2021, investigates various aspects of lunches brought from home (LBFH) to school by children. These meals, in contrast to those provided by the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), lack strict nutritional standards. Despite the availability of NSLP lunches, approximately 40% of U.S. children opt for LBFH. This review aims to assess the food content and nutritional quality of LBFH, their adherence to NSLP standards in terms of nutrition and cost, effectiveness of intervention programs designed to enhance their nutritional quality and parental and student perceptions of LBFH. The comprehensive literature search yielded 28 eligible papers, with 16 included in meta-analysis. LBFH commonly include fruits (50%), yet vegetables (17%) and dairy (25%) are less prevalent. They frequently contain snacks (50%), sweets (48%), and sugar-sweetened beverages (31%). Compared to school lunches, LBFH exhibit lower levels of calcium, protein, iron, fiber, and vitamin A, and higher levels of carbohydrates and saturated fat. Intervention programs had no effect on quality of LBFH. On average, LBFH ($1.81) cost slightly less than lunches served at school ($1.98), without accounting for free/reduce price meals in the calculation. The cost of school lunch for pre-k and kindergarten children became $11.32, nearly four times higher than that of LBFH ($2.92), after replicating the meal at home and accounting meal preparation time. Parents preferred LBFH over school lunches due to concerns related to quality of school meals served. This study concludes that LBFH are generally less nutritious compared to lunches provided by NSLP. Future research needs to further explore ways to improve parent perception about NSLP. Especially with many states making free meals available to all children, identifying effective ways in promoting and increasing NSLP participation can ensure more children have access to nutritionally balanced and affordable lunches.