Study “Back to School”

The start of school after the holidays is an exciting phase for many families, in which the selection of suitable food for their children plays an important role. In the “Back to School” study, MWResearch investigated which factors influence parental decisions when choosing snacks and meals for their schoolchildren.

The study is based on a Germany-wide online survey of N=103 parents whose children aged 4 to 15 attend a preschool or class, primary school or secondary school. The data was collected in the period from 27 August to 3 September 2024. All the parents surveyed said they give their children snacks or meals for school at least once a week. The aim of the study was to understand the preferences of parents in the composition of lunch boxes and to find out to what extent the children have a say in this.

The results clearly show that fruit and bread are the most common components of lunch boxes, followed by vegetables. Snacks as well as dairy products or plant-based alternatives also play a role but are packed less frequently.

Most families make decisions about their children’s school meals together. Particularly in families with a higher level of education, decision-making tends to occur more frequently through dialogue. In families with a lower level of education, however, children are often allowed to decide independently which foods to take to school.

These findings highlight that participation is an important factor for most parents. The parents’ educational background influences the extent to which children are involved in the decision-making process. These insights provide an interesting perspective on family life and underscore the trend toward greater participation of children in dietary decisions.

Our study has shown that most children do not have specific dietary restrictions, and discussions about nutrition play a role in many families, albeit to varying degrees.

A large number of parents report having regular, in-depth conversations with their children about the importance of a healthy diet. While some families frequently discuss nutrition topics, others do so more occasionally. Only a few indicated that nutrition is rarely or never addressed in their daily lives.

Additionally, the analysis revealed that only a small proportion of children follow a vegetarian, lactose-free, or gluten-free diet.

These findings highlight the importance of nutritional conversations in family life and demonstrate that most children grow up in an environment where their eating habits are actively discussed.

Overall, the results show that decisions regarding school meals are often made through dialogue between parents and children, with individual dietary habits playing a central role. The selection of foods is primarily determined by the children’s preferences, followed by the nutritional quality and health value of the products. These two selection criteria have emerged as the most important factors in the comprehensive analysis (see full report).

The findings provide valuable insights to specifically address the needs of families and promote healthy and appealing meal options that consider both the tastes of children and the nutritional needs of the entire family.

If you are interested in the full report or further information, our Research Director Marie Kordes is available to assist you: marie.kordes@mwresearch.de.