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The Jan/Feb issue of CHOICE assessed around 100 prepacked snacks from supermarkets and found that just 25 of them met all its nutrition requirements, with many of the products containing high levels of saturated fat, sodium and/or sugar, or providing too many kilojoules per serve. CHOICE's Food Policy Officer Clare Hughes said it was important to choose snacks wisely, as they're as important as main meals to keep children going through the day.
"Ideally snacks shouldn't be too high in kilojoules, and should be low in saturated fat, added sugar and salt" she said. "It's also good to vary them so you have a balance of nutrients." Ms Hughes said parents should also be wary of food poisoning, as bugs could grow quickly in lunchbox foods such as cooked meats, fish, chicken and salads, particularly in warm weather. "Lunchboxes may sit around for hours, so there's plenty of opportunity for bugs to grow" she said. CHOICE makes the following suggestions for keeping food safe: - Hygiene : make sure your hands, chopping board and utensils are clean and dry before preparing food.
- Keep the food cold : use an insulated lunchbox and/or put a freezer pack or a frozen drink bottle in the lunchbox.
- Preparation : save time and keep food cold by freezing sandwiches the night before. Suitable fillings for freezing include cooked meat, cheese, peanut butter, baked beans, mashed eggs and Vegemite.
If you would like an interview or further information, please phone our switchboard on 02 9577 3333, or direct on 0416 085 188. | For more information see the CHOICE Online report . |
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