School lunches are a hot topic across the world: from British celebrity chef Jamie Oliver's Feed Me Better campaign, to Two Angry Moms trying to improve school lunches in the US. Both are aiming to get junk food out, and bring whole foods in.
The situation is slightly different in The Netherlands, where children traditionally went home for lunch, and school cafeterias are an anomaly. These days, however, more and more Dutch children are 'staying over' for lunch at school. Soda and chips are gaining ground, and childhood obesity is on the rise.
Two entrepreneurs came up with their own solution to the lunch problem: Lunch4Kids. Packaged like a McDonald's Happy Meal, each lunchbox contains sandwiches, a drink (milk or juice), a piece of fruit and a snack (yoghurt, a cookie, a baby cucumber, etc).
Parents order online, specifying which foods their youngsters will leave untouched, and anything they're allergic to. The lunchboxes are delivered to participating schools every morning, and invoices are sent directly to parents. This keeps things simple for schools: nothing to administrate or refrigerate.
Besides the obvious advantages of balanced meals and healthy variety, there's also a high convenience aspect to Lunch4Kids. Parents don't have to worry about what to pack, or panic if they've run out of fresh bread or juice boxes. According to parents who participated in the trial-run, this alleviates morning stress and makes breakfast a time to enjoy with their families.
Lunch4Kids was soft-launched at five primary schools over the past few months, and parents and schools aren't the only ones that like the concept. Large food brands, including Unilever and Danone, are itching to get in on the action. We can't blame them — this business idea incorporates some of the biggest and enduring trends around, from an obsession with health and craving convenience, to the power of design and customization/personalisation. Some yummie opportunities here!
Website: http://www.lunch4kids.com
Contact: http://www.lunch4kids.com/index.php?id=18
good idea. I like the cardboard box, although I think the decoration on the box could be more entertaining. The athestic design is very boring and if the target market is children I think having a game or word puzzle that relates to education or healthy eating would be better.
Great idea -- and seems like the environmental foodprint is high with such standard packaging. Seems like a little creative brainstorming about how to pack it (think reusable, or environmentally freindly, or alternative fiber, etc.) would be serving the target market (who if concerned with healthy food are most likely also concerned with healthy environment also).
do you deliver worldwide i would like these meals to come to my home here in detroit where do i get the prices and can this be done
Hi Michelle,
We're an online publication, and not affiliated with Lunch4Kids. Any questions about distribution should be sent through http://www.lunch4kids.com/index.php?id=18. However, I do know that Lunch4Kids doesn't deliver in Detroit. They just got started in The Netherlands.
Best,
Liesbeth
it is a very good idea but many people earn money from selling food to childrens : canteens and even the schools sometimes ! so I don't know how they convience to bring food to school, why the school delivers their food ? generally there is a kitchen and people pay to get these kitchens and they will not want someone else sells food in the school... but with all these difficulties congratulations...sorry if ı am too long but the last thing childrens will not want to eat sandwiches everyday even though its wholewheat etc...
Hi,
I am pleasantly surprised to see our company on an international website. Clearly there are some differences between Holland and the rest of the world. In Holland the primary scold don’t have kitchens nor cantinas. It is customary for the patents to make lunches in the morning and give it to the child to take to school, that is for the children who remain in school during the break. In Holland we have about 1.500.000 children in primary schools and (a growing) 30% stays in school during the break.
Interesting to see how every country differs so much.
Regards,
Petra teeuwen
There's a similar service in the San Francisco area called Kid Chow, focused on organic and healthy lunches. They also work with summer camps.
http://kid-chow.com/
maybe we should team up, Kid-Chow is based in the Bay area, not?
i dnt get dis websitr
wat is da point of it
will you put on it some healthy meals dat would be good for students to use in course work cos i need breakfast lunch and dinner meals dat r healthy and i cnt find any on any websites
HELP ME PLEASE !!!!!
Please cud u help me i really want to lose wieght so please help me THANK YOU FROM AIMEE sMALLMAN
my 7 year old broke down crying when I told her she had to buy lunch, I didn't get to the store on time. she cried " the last time I almost puked because of the smell of the pizza.
Now I feel this is a much needed service.
IN the meantime Pack Your lunches the night before. And Stay Healthy. Southren California.
is ur website in english...it should be...goood idea
Do you think that this would be something that can be explored for e.g. emerging markets like the South African market? Maybe in schools in Town ships? For example companies that want to become involved can sponsor a shcool and arrange for these lunch boxes to be delivered to the adopted schools? This can then be further established for other schools where parents can afford to pay?
i think school lunches shud be like mcdonald kfc bk