School lunches often lack fruit and vegetables

Two-fifths of U.K. schoolchildren who bring a packed lunch to school aren’t getting any fresh fruit or vegetables in their lunchbox, according to a study conducted by the World Cancer Research Fund.

Only 58 percent of packed lunches contain at least one fresh fruit or serving of vegetables, compared to 90 percent of meals served in school cafeterias, reports the Daily Mail.

"It can sometimes be difficult for parents to control what their children eat, particularly if they are passing shops on the way home from school or visiting their friends," noted Kate Mendoza, head of education at the WCRF. "But parents can influence what is in their packed lunches and the fact that not all of them are doing so is a missed opportunity."

Mendoza recommends including a piece of fruit or using a portion of salad to top off a sandwich, as easy and affordable ways to give kids the nutrition they need at lunch.