Family Perspectives on Packing a Low-Waste and Nutritious School Lunchbox

Objective: To explore family perspectives on food, packaging, and waste in lunchboxes, and the everyday practices of lunchbox packing and consumption. Design: Exploratory qualitative study using semistructured interviews guided by a critical realist epistemology. Setting: Online interviews with South Australian families. Participants: Self-selected sample of 16 parents (94% mothers) and their children aged 8–12 years in primary school grades third through sixth (60% female) from public (75%) and private schools (25%) across medium (38%) and high (62%) socioeconomic backgrounds. Phenomenon of Interest and Variables: Factors influencing preparation of a nutritious and low-waste school lunchbox. Analysis: Data were analyzed inductively using a reflexive thematic approach to identify major themes. Results: Three major themes were generated: (1) extrinsic factors and school environment structures, (2) intrinsic factors and a Hierarchy of Motivations, and (3) responsibility for change. External factors influenced familial lunchbox packing practices, whereas personal priorities shaped food and packaging choices. Families emphasized shared responsibility for improving nutrition and reducing packaging between parents, schools, and broader systems. Conclusions and Implications: This study provides updated insights into family lunchbox practices. Preexisting challenges in lunchbox practices deter prioritization of environmental sustainability. School-level initiatives should address barriers and leverage enablers to support families. Further research is needed to integrate nutrition and sustainability agendas and clarify responsibility for driving change.