Does colour variety accurately quantify nutritional value in children's lunchboxes? A pilot study

Area of Science:

• Nutrition Science
• Public Health
• Pediatric Nutrition

Background:

• Public health guidelines recommend diets rich in fruits and vegetables, emphasizing color variety for nutrient intake.
• The relationship between the visual diversity of food colors and nutritional quality in children's diets requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the association between food color variety and nutritional value in children's packed lunches.
• To assess the Nutri-score of lunches and its correlation with the number of colors present.

Main Methods:

• An observational, cross-sectional study involving photography of 82 children's lunchboxes.
• Foods were assessed using the Nutri-score system, and composite scores were calculated. Color variety was determined using a standardized color chart.

Main Results:

• Children's lunchboxes averaged 4 colors, with no variation by age or sex.
• No direct association was found between color variety and composite Nutri-score.
• Lunches with greater color variety included more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fats. Higher Nutri-scores were associated with vegetables, meat, fish, and eggs.

Conclusions:

• While color variety did not directly correlate with nutritional scores, lunches with fruits and vegetables tended to be more colorful.
• Findings suggest that incorporating food color variety into dietary guidelines for children may be beneficial.