Otumoetai Intermediate deputy principal John Stanley was upfront about why his school sold junk food.
There was a demand for it, he said, and if the school did not provide it, students would buy it elsewhere and take profits away from the school.
All five schools surveyed sold sandwiches. Fizzy drinks were off the menu.
The schools encouraged children to make "informed decisions" about their food choices.
And this is all a school can do.
As this paper has noted before, it is not junk food per se that causes obesity. It is not eating these types of foods in moderation.
If a child chooses to eat a pie or a chicken nugget roll (as unappetising as that sounds) once in a while it is unlikely to to do them much harm.
However, if they are buying junk food every day instead of taking a packed lunch then it becomes a problem.
This is not an issue for the school, it is an issue for parents.
It's up to parents to ensure their children are eating a balanced diet, that they get enough exercise and know how to make healthy food choices.
Obesity - which costs the country between $722 million and $849 million a year in healthcare costs and lost productivity - is a societal problem but there is no collective solution.
Individuals have to take responsibility for their eating and exercise habits.
Schools should be able to provide a choice of food - and it's ultimately a parent's responsibility to encourage their children to live healthy, active lives.
