KEY POINTS:
The sandwich is no longer the core of children's lunchboxes, and muesli bars and crisps are becoming a staple, a new study has found.
The survey of about 100 families, commissioned by Government agency the Health Sponsorship Council, was released last night, just five days before new healthy eating guidelines for schools come in.
It revealed many parents "valued" schools' lunch rules, while flashy packaging touting healthier options was confusing.
Many respondents started the working week feeding their families healthy foods but habits slipped as the weekend approached and they got busier.
Nutritionist Celia Murphy said the decline of the sandwich was not necessarily bad news.
Ms Murphy, a researcher for public health specialist Quigley and Watts, said depending on how they were made, sandwiches were potentially a good, filling and nutritious lunch but "they could also be not that flash".
Wholegrain bread with a small amount of olive oil-based spread or butter, lean protein and vegetables was good. However, lots of butter, chocolate spreads and jam were no-nos.
"Sandwiches are quick and are easy and they travel well and kids don't need anything to eat them with - so they are ideal from that point of view," said Ms Murphy. "But there are certainly alternatives."
Pasta salads, leftover risotto or filled wraps were on the rise.
"I think it's less to do with the decline of the sandwich, [than] that there's other more exciting things that kids want to eat," she said. "Some of those things come in packets and aren't that flash [nutritionally]."
Health Sponsorship Council's Feeding our Futures programme manager Michelle Mako said children's preferences were changing.
She said the Healthy Eating in New Zealand Families and Whanau survey did not show what was replacing sandwiches but more research was under way.
The study found that despite major campaigns to try to get Kiwis eating more healthily, it was of low or moderate importance to most families.
Ms Mako said other pressures, such as budgeting, meant healthy eating ended up "slipping down the radar".
Some parents allowed their children to buy their lunch every day as the youngsters had stopped eating packed lunches - for some teenagers lunch from home was not cool.
Some parents said their children asked for what other children had and they did not want the youngsters to feel that their lunches were not as good.
"If I sent my kids to school with just a sandwich or say two sandwiches, maybe a yoghurt and a whole lot of fruit, and no chips, no biscuits, no crackers - I'd feel so guilty because nobody else does," wrote one mother.
Packaged lunchbox snacks also reportedly had better barter value.
* APPLES STILL FAVOURITE
Caretaker Brian Taylor knows what kids like - and don't like - in their lunches.
Having the job of emptying the recycling bins at Windy Ridge School on Auckland's North Shore, it's clear boiled eggs are not flavour of this month.
"I've had one a day for the last eight days - whole, untouched. It's probably from the same student," said Mr Taylor. "I've taken them home for my pigs to eat."
The 200-pupil school in Glenfield requires students to show their lunchboxes to duty teachers after they have sat down for 20 minutes to eat.
It runs newsletter items to let parents know if there's a particular problem with what's going to waste.
Yesterday, four students who spoke to the Herald had no complaints about their fare.
Anna Sadler, 9, was pleased with the lettuce-filled bread bun - a favourite - and apple that filled her pink lunchbox.
While Lexi Primrose, 6, had a range of items including a cookie, crackers, and a little packet of Twisties - the apple was her pick.
"I like them because they're nice and juicy on the inside and crunchy on the outside."
Charlotte Horne, 8, had the most traditional lunch - complete with peanut butter sandwiches.
Principal Janine Irvine said parents were largely receptive to the school's rules not to send sweets or fizzy drinks in their child's lunch.
Mrs Irvine said the last fundraising "cake day" had been held and sushi days would be trialled instead to comply with incoming guidelines.
