Back To School with Kimberly Walsh

As the ‘packed lunch panic’ looms, Warburtons partners with Kimberley Walsh to help parents pack a healthy balanced lunch, that the kids will eat!

As the new school year approaches, parents across the UK are grappling with the pressures of packing nutritious, appealing and varied lunches for their children. Balancing the need for healthy options with children’s preferences and ensuring the lunch is eaten can be a source of significant stress. This comes as new research by Warburtons reveals that 60% of parents worry about ensuring that their children’s packed lunches are nutritious, whilst making sure they’re making something that will be eaten.

Warburtons, Britain’s biggest bakery brand, has teamed up with Girls Aloud singer and mum of three, Kimberley Walsh, along with dietician Lucy Kerrison, to show parents that back-to-basics lunches, such as sandwiches, can be part of a healthy, balanced diet, whilst also catering to their children’s tastes and preferences.

The brand-new research of 800 packed lunch preparing parents revealed that 75% are unsure if a sandwich is a healthy lunch option, yet a whopping 79% still pack a sandwich as the main item in their child’s lunchbox. With only 26% of parents believing that what they’re providing their children is very nutritious, Warburtons is on a mission to assure parents that they’re doing the right thing.

According to dietician, Lucy Kerrison, the ‘ideal’ kids lunch box should contain:

• One portion of starches (like bread, pasta, or rice) to support brain function, energy levels and to provide iron and B vitamins
• 1-2 portions of veggies (like cucumber, carrot, or pepper) to support healthy bowel movements and mineral intake
• One portion of fruit (such as oranges, apples, or bananas) to support vitamin intake
• One portion of dairy or alternatives (like yogurt, cheese, or plant-based milk) to support calcium intake
• One portion of protein (such as meat, fish, or beans) to support growth and muscle function

“A good option would be chicken or cheese and cucumber sandwich, which can be used on a variety of breads, along with carrot sticks, sliced apple and cubed cheese” said Kerrison.

The advice follows additional findings which revealed the average child’s lunchbox includes a sandwich, a pack of crisps and an apple.

81% of parents pack sarnies because they consider them the ‘safest’ option their kids will likely eat, with 20% adding them to the lunchboxes with the same filling daily – with ham most common, closely followed by cheese.

While a yoghurt was the top ‘sweet treat’ added, followed by biscuits and a chocolate bar.

Nutritionist Lucy Kerrison said: “Whilst many parents want their kid’s lunchboxes to be as nutritious as possible and feel the pressure to do so, most don’t have the luxury of being able to do so due to factors such as fussy kids, time poor mornings, convenience and affordability.

“That’s why sandwiches are a great lunch time option – offering a cost-effective, efficient way to power your kids through the school day, whilst still providing the nutritional balance they need – from fibre, B vitamins and calcium to the essential fats and protein within the sandwich fillings.

“With Back to School around the corner, Warburtons’ latest campaign is aiming to educate parents about how sandwiches are a quick and easy way to provide nutrition with recipe inspiration and top tricks to make it that little bit easier.”

It also emerged 61% considered the packed lunches they make their child ‘somewhat’ nutritious, with one in 10 admitting what they pack isn’t. And 39% struggle to keep things varied while 34% find it difficult to provide nutritional balance.

Of the 34% who struggle to balance their child’s lunchboxes, 48% state their kids won’t eat the ‘good’ items they add in.

And 42% struggle to find items that’ll keep fresh, according to the OnePoll.com data.

Kimberley Walsh says: “As a busy mum of three, I understand the pressures that comes with trying to make healthy, nutritious packed lunches for your kids, and it’s interesting to see from the research that other mums feel the same.

Working with Warburtons and a dietician has really helped me understand that going back-to-basics with a delicious sandwich is one of the best ways to ensure your child is getting all the correct nutrients they need.”

When it comes to their children’s lunchbox requests – the most frequent asks were the inclusion of a particular snack or juice, sandwiches to be cut a certain way, or for their crusts to be chopped off.

Interestingly, parents spend almost 20 minutes planning and preparing their school lunchboxes each day.

While 64% have left notes for their little ones in them – expressing love and affection, jokes or funny messages and motivational words.

Jonathan Warburton, Chairman of Warburtons, said, “Making your child’s lunchbox everyday can be a lot of pressure, as we want to ensure our children don’t go hungry and are on top form to learn throughout the day. The research shows how many parents are unsure about what to make, and worry that a simple sandwich isn’t a suitable, healthy lunch option for their children. Which is why we wanted to offer some reassurance that they’re doing a great job, and the humble butty is a great option!

“A lot of parents feel like they’re not feeding their kids the most nutritious meals possible, however Lucy’s insights help highlight how they can pack as much nutrition as possible into the humble sandwich to provide the energy and nutrients they need to keep them focused and active throughout their day – it’s the simplest and easiest way!”

High-res imagery of Kimberley Walsh for Warburtons back to school campaign can be found here. For more information on Warburtons’ full range of products to choose from for any lunchbox, visit www.warburtons.co.uk.

Share article