Good food means better learning

KFC, chocolate and marshmallow skewer sticks and energy drinks feature in some student lunches, a local principal says.

Ed Hodgkinson, Lakeview School principal and president of the Masterton Primary School Principals Association, said most students brought healthy, reasonable food to school.

"But, a minority, say 1 per cent, can be bringing some real rubbish to school for lunches," Mr Hodgkinson said.

One of the worst cases included a student whose mother delivered KFC to him at the school gate during lunch time.

Another student, who missed breakfast, came to school with chocolate and marshmallow skewer sticks.

With many schools set to resume next week, a nutritionist is offering parents healthy tips for kids' lunch boxes to help them concentrate in class.

Mr Hodgkinson said most parents do the best with what they have.

"What we see lots of are processed-type things, chippy packets and roll ups. It's a convenience thing," the principal said.

"Even I do it with my own children. When you're busy and both parents are working, it's easy to buy those types of things that you don't have to pack yourself. You just shove them in a lunch box."

Healthy Food Guide nutritionist Claire Turnbull says children should have a mix of wholegrain carbohydrates, protein and dairy in lunch boxes.

"If your children are eating well at school, they're more likely to concentrate better, feel better, have more energy, be less irritable and get more out of their school day," Ms Turnbull said.

She recommended parents involve children as much as possible in the kitchen.

Cheap ingredients such as rolled oats, potatoes and eggs could be used as basic components in many foods, she said.

"There are healthy versions of muesli bars you can make at home which have oats and seeds and raisins.

"You've got a double winner there. You've made something which is like a treat and ... the child has seen what's gone into that food."

Budget-friendly options for lunch boxes included pita-pockets stuffed with tuna, and homemade egg, vegetable and potato frittata.

Filling lunch boxes with nutritional ready-to-eat food was also important.

"If an orange is cut up and they can bite it straight away, they are probably more likely to eat than if they've got it whole ... " Ms Turnbull said.

Research from Canterbury University, which surveyed 1000 primary and secondary schools about health issues, found in nearly 60 per cent of schools, teachers identified food in crinkly packets; foods high in fat and sugar; high-energy drinks; and foods high in caffeine and low in nutrients as barriers to learning.

Hungry children will struggle to concentrate in classroom. Child welfare groups have rallied in support of the Mana Party's Food Amendment Bill, before Parliament, which proposes state-funded breakfast and lunch for children in low decile schools, following a similar recommendation from an advisory group appointed by the Children's Commissioner. APNZ