A Journey Into School Lunchbox Decision-Making: A Mixed Methods Exploration of Australian Parents

Abstract

Introduction: This study aimed to understand parents' decision-making processes when packing their child's lunchbox, investigating barriers and facilitators of seeking nutrition information for food choices. Methods: An online survey with Likert and open-ended questions was conducted via social media platforms. Descriptive quantitative analysis was conducted for the quantitative data, and thematic analysis was done for the qualitative data. Results: Of 52 parent participants, 78% considered nutritional information when packing lunchboxes, relying mainly on food labelling (32%) and the Australian Nutrition Food Guide (12%). Most parents (64%) felt confident preparing healthy lunchboxes, focusing on fresh, high-fibre foods and avoiding preservatives. While 60% felt they did not need additional information, 40% were open to more guidance. Key themes included informed food choices, balancing nutrition with preferences, managing information overload, and practical approaches. Conclusions: Parents demonstrated knowledge of healthy eating guidelines but faced challenges in balancing nutritious choices with children's preferences, cost, and providing a balanced diet. So What?: Clear, accessible guidance on healthy lunchbox preparation needs to be provided. This helps with comprehensive food labelling, strategies for balancing nutrition with preferences, addressing cost challenges, and developing interventions to overcome barriers in food knowledge and availability.