Economic Gaps Force Israeli Parents to Cut Back on Children's Lunches

A new survey by Leket Israel and the Madgam Institute reveals that economic disparities are directly impacting children's school lunches. Nearly half of parents with below-average incomes had to remove at least one item from their child's lunchbox due to cost in the past year, compared to less than a fifth of parents with above-average incomes.

Fruits were the first item parents cut, with one in five parents foregoing them, followed by dairy products, vegetables, and protein sources like eggs and tuna. While 58% of parents stated that sending a healthy lunch is important to them, and only 4% prioritized price, over a third admitted their financial situation dictates their food choices, and one in five are actively seeking cheaper products.

Furthermore, 51% of parents believe school-based nutrition education could help, and 43% highlighted the need for accessible fruits and vegetables within educational institutions. The survey also noted that 42% of parents reported changes in their children's eating habits during periods of emergency and security tension, with increased consumption of snacks and sweets, decreased regular eating, and reduced intake of fruits and vegetables.

Smadar Hod Ovadia, Vice President of Nutrition and Quality at Leket Israel, commented on the findings, stating, "With the return to school, the lunchbox becomes part of the daily routine for hundreds of thousands of families. The survey shows that parents want to provide their children with healthy nutrition, but not everyone has the same ability to do so. Healthy nutrition is not just a matter of knowledge and choice, but also of accessibility. At Leket Israel, we work to connect these two, to rescue quality food and make it accessible to those who need it, alongside promoting knowledge and tools for healthy nutrition."