Overview

• The University of Bristol-led study analyzed data from over 5,300 children in the Children of the 90s cohort, tracking eating habits from preschool to age 13.
• Picky eaters were more likely to avoid meat, fish, and fruit in packed lunches, but this avoidance was not observed in school dinners.
• School dinners allowed picky eaters to eat a broader range of foods and make choices more aligned with their peers, attributed to increased autonomy and peer influence.
• The research underscores that family norms strongly shape packed lunch contents, while school environments can help modify entrenched eating behaviors.
• Researchers suggest school meals could be a strategy to improve adolescent nutrition, with implications for parental practices and potential packed lunch policy discussions.