Abstract
Schools are increasingly using online pre-order systems for children to select school meals in advance. This study aimed to explore how children use and interact with these systems. Using a combination of direct observation and an online questionnaire, the operation of these systems in four UK primary schools was examined. This included how the menu options were displayed, how these were selected by children (4–11 years), and the interactions between children and others when making food selections. Where possible, most children pre-ordered their school lunch in the classroom, and differences in the food choice process among children were observed. These apparently related to children’s ages; older children (8–11 years) showed more independence when making food selections, whereas younger children were often supported by others. Most parents reported that their child was the decision maker when pre-ordering the school lunch, and the role of children in the selection of school lunches was evident. This may be accentuated by the online pre-order systems, and given the likely expansion of these systems in schools, there is an opportunity to implement interventions to influence children towards specific or different meal options from the school menu.
Highlights
Excess weight gain in children has been reported to be associated with the intake of foods, such as potatoes cooked in oil, processed meats, coated poultry and fish, milk, sugar-sweetened beverages, desserts, and sweets [4]
This study aimed to explore how OPSs are used within a school food environment, and to examine how pupils interact with these systems to select their school lunches, and what this reveals regarding children’s food choices
The free school meal (FSM) profiles of the schools varied; three schools had a lower percentage of pupils eligible for free school meals than the national average for Nutrients 2022, 14, 951 primary schools (21.6%) [29] and one school had a considerably higher percentage of pupils eligible for free school meals, at just over 30%
Summary
The prevalence of global childhood obesity has increased substantially in the last forty-five years [1]. Excess weight gain in children has been reported to be associated with the intake of foods, such as potatoes cooked in oil (french fries, roast potatoes, crisps), processed meats, coated poultry and fish, milk, sugar-sweetened beverages, desserts, and sweets [4]. Both internal and external factors (e.g., hunger, personal likes, and food availability) can influence children’s food choices. Some meal descriptions No images of meals n/a (no selection at school) Pupils selected their name on the ‘pupil’ touchscreen monitor to reveal their pre-selected meal on the ‘pupil’ and ‘staff’. Pupils wore coloured wristbands (according to their pre-selected meal option) to indicate meals to catering staff. Longer queues and waiting time ensued when the touchscreen stopped working, or children found it difficult to find their name quickly on the small touchscreens
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