Food & Nutrition

Parents of nut-allergic children vary in their views of how schools should manage their child’s lunchtime. Most parents of children without nut allergies (58%) think schools should have nut-allergic children eat lunch in a designated area, such as a nut-free table. Less than 40% of parents support a school-wide ban on nut-containing products.

35% of parents report that their young children have 2 or more cups of juice on a typical day. 49% of lowest-income parents report their children drink 2 or more cups of juice on a typical day. Lower-income parents are also more likely than higher-income parents to say that their children’s doctor recommends juice.

82% of parents report at least one school-based intervention aimed at preventing childhood obesity within their children’s schools. 30% of parents of children age 6-14 report worrisome eating behaviors & physical activity in their children. 7% of parents say their children have been made to feel bad at school about what or how much they were eating.

1 out of 8 parents give schools a "D" or "F" for healthy food choices. Parents of primary school students give better grades for healthy food choices than parents of secondary school students.

About one-quarter of parents know of a child with a life-threatening food allergy in their children's school or daycare. About three-quarters of parents who know of a food-allergic child say their children's school/daycare makes accommodations for children with food allergies.