Objective

To determine the prevalence of healthy lunchboxes in Peruvian elementary schoolchildren.

Material and Methods

Cross-sectional study including a sample of 8 185 children of public and private schools. Probabilistic, stratified and multistage sampling. Healthy lunchbox was defined as that composed of a fruit, a drink and a healthy complement (low in sugar, salt and oil) according to the Peruvian law; it was evaluated by observation. The analysis was performed using complex samples adjusted by weighting factor. Percentages, 95% confidence interval and chi square were calculated. Formal authorization was requested from the principal and the teachers and fathers; additionally, written consent was requested from students aged ≥9 years or older.

Results

8 185 schoolchildren were evaluated; the prevalence was 58.7% of lunchboxes (CI95%: 56.5;61.0). The prevalence of lunchbox use was 5.4% (CI95%: 4.6;6.3). A figure of 5.6% healthy lunchboxes was found in boys and 5.2% in girls. 6.3% of the children residing in the urban area had healthy lunch boxes, in contrast to 0.8% in the rural area. Children residing in Metropolitan Lima (8.1%) and the jungle (8.1%) had healthy lunchboxes. The departments with the highest prevalence of healthy lunchboxes were: Arequipa (13.6%), Moquegua (9.4%), Tacna (9.3%), Lima (7.5%) and Lambayeque (6.5%).

Conclusions

The prevalence of healthy lunchboxes in Peruvian schoolchildren is very low.