How much would you pay for school to provide your child with lunch every day?

Most Australian children bring their lunch to school through a “lunchbox system”. But there is a growing push for schools to provide students with lunch.

Despite decades of efforts to promote better nutrition, it is estimated nearly half (44%) of the foods Australian children eat at school are energy-dense and nutrient-poor (or “discretionary foods”). This is alarming as our previous research with children aged nine to eleven shows an association between a poor diet and lower NAPLAN scores.

School programs providing students with a nutritious lunch are common around the world. Research shows school-provided lunches can increase social equity and improve nutritional, health and learning outcomes.

Pilot school lunch programs have begun in Australia, including Tasmania, New South Wales and Victoria.

But wider school lunch programs would be a significant change to how children access food at school in Australia.

In our new research, we look at what parents think about school lunch programs. If school lunch programs are going to work in Australia, families’ support will be crucial.

Our research

In our study, we surveyed almost 400 parents of primary school students across Australia, to seek their views about school lunch programs. We recruited parents through paid social media advertisements. They came from a range of backgrounds and household incomes.

Based on different school food programs in the United Kingdom, France, Sweden and Australia, we tested six key components of a school-provided lunch model:

• cost

• nutrition and quality

• environmental sustainability

• menu options

• access (should programs be optional or provided to all students regardless of their background)

• a whole-school approach (is the lunch program integrated with classroom learning and other school messaging).

We also asked parents how much they would be willing to pay for different lunch approaches.

Most parents are keen on school lunch programs

We found 93% of parents surveyed were interested in school-provided lunches.

Parents told us nutrition and food quality was the key driver of their interest in a school lunch program. It was also the most important consideration when designing a school program.

Menu variety was the next most important consideration, with a strong preference for having two meal options. This was similar to our previous findings, which show parents and children value choice for school-provided lunches. Parents in the new study also expressed an interest in children trying a wider range of foods.

The next most important consideration for parents was taking an environmentally sustainable approach to the food program, followed by integrating food education and healthy eating across the school day.

Many parents in our survey were also motivated by the idea all children would have access to the same meal, with 70% saying they valued the potential for equal and stigma-free food provision.

Parents would pay about $6 per day

Globally, national school meal programs vary in payment models, ranging from free to subsidised/means tested or fully paid by students and families.

Parents unsurprisingly preferred lower-cost options over higher-cost options. But they also showed a willingness to pay more for programs that focused on food quality, sustainability and links to the curriculum – not just filling bellies.

Parents in our study currently spent around A$6 per day on lunchboxes (most spent between $4–10). They said they were happy to pay a similar amount for a school-provided lunch.

Most were even willing to pay a little more to subsidise lunches for others to ensure all children receive a meal or larger portions for older children.

Why this matters

Packing lunchboxes can be a real slog, putting lots of pressure on families.

Read more: Swap muesli bars for homemade popcorn: 5 ways to pack a lower-waste lunch box

In another study we did, parents have talked openly about their “lunchbox guilt”. Parents have to pack lunchboxes as they balance busy work and family lives, children’s preferences and social expectations of “what’s OK to send to school”.

We also know many kids end up at school with food that is not healthy.

Our research suggests Australian parents are willing to invest in a different approach to school food. By highlighting what matters most to them – food quality – we get an important insight into what is more likely to make new programs successful and sustainable.

These results give policymakers valuable guidance on what families consider essential for a school-provided meal program.