<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Kids' lunchboxes are being packed with too many chips, biscuits, and processed snacks, according to new research.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The study, conducted by Deakin University, involved interviews with 682 primary school students to find out what they're eating.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The findings indicated that children aged between eight and twelve years get about 47 per cent of their daily caloric intake from ultra-processed foods such as chips, biscuits, and sausage rolls. </span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/rosanna-why-a-melbourne-creek-is-flowing-bright-blue/7004d1b2-30f4-427a-a9a3-99da9245e20a"><strong><span>Why a Melbourne creek is flowing bright blue</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"They have additives like colours, emulsifiers, flavours, thickeners," said Dr Carley Grimes from the Institute for Physical Activity &amp; Nutrition.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It's setting children up for poor eating habits."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The study has raised concerns about the long-term health impacts, given the correlation between high consumption of ultra-processed foods and increased Body Mass Index (BMI) in children as young as 10. </span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/lunchbox-trends-ultra-processed-foods/451351d3-e4b5-4642-a2d7-2e470d4a666b" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"If it persists later into life - that sets them up for a range of chronic disease risk," Grimes said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/finance/unemployment-rate-june-2025-abs-data-interest-rates/26716d34-ab4d-4bfb-accf-d21bb375235b"><strong><span>Surprise data adds to case for interest rate cut next month</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Cost and convenience were identified as significant factors behind the glut of processed food. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The study looked at what kids ate over a full 24 hours, so while what's in the lunchbox is key on school days, experts say there's plenty of scope to also pack extra good stuff into breakfast and dinner.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Making homemade options, freezer stashes, and buying in-season are other tips to help parents get the balance right.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><span>This article was produced with the assistance of </span></em><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/technology/9express/16480c33-636a-461f-9c4f-d0e2522c722a"><em><span>9ExPress</span></em></a><em><span>.</span></em></div></div>