Spaghetti tacos, peanut butter and pickle sandwiches, and even beer — a new survey has found the wildest lunch requests kids make from their parents, and the lunchtime priorities parents insist on.
The poll of 2,000 U.S. parents of school-aged children found many kids have asked their parents for strange additions to their packed lunches, from a cold baked potato, raw beets and crab legs, to ketchup and cucumbers, and even a Salisbury steak.
And parents recalled having to say no to many lunch requests: beer, candy, ice cream, wings, sushi, steak, soda and seafood boils.
More classic, obvious picks kids said they “love” to eat for lunch were: pizza (93%), chips (93%), cookies (93%) and fruit snacks (93%). And some not-so-obvious but healthier options were: fresh fruit (92%), cheese sticks (86%), yogurt pouches (76%) and yogurt drinks (73%).
Commissioned by Chobani and conducted by Talker Research, the study found 78% of parents send their kids to school with a packed lunch, but nine in 10 kids come home from school with leftovers, causing many parents to ask how they can up their lunch-packing game.
Seventy-six percent of parents have talked to their kids about why they bring home certain foods untouched. According to them, they’re either picky eaters (39%), want more snacks and less main dishes (25%) or they would rather eat what the school offers (19%).
Kids and parents also differed on what they believe consists of a “good,” balanced lunch. Kids said a good lunch includes a main and snack (50%), something sweet (44%), juice (40%) and water (33%).
Parents, on the other hand, insist a good, healthy lunch needs to include a main and snack (53%), water (51%), juice (42%) and something nutrient-dense (39%).
“Kids always want the things that taste good to them,” said Frances Largeman-Roth, RDN and mom of four. “Parents, meanwhile, want what’s healthiest for them. But in a lot of cases, those two things aren’t mutually exclusive.”
The survey found many parents will go out of their way to motivate their kids to eat their full lunch.
More than half (51%) try to pack food kids like to eat. Meanwhile, other motivations include seeing friends eating the same thing (29%) or being rewarded for eating all of their lunch (19%).
A majority of parents (85%) would likely plan their kid’s lunches with them, as long as their kid promises to eat everything that’s planned for them.
Three in four (74%) parents said they “frequently” seek out their child’s approval on what gets packed for lunch.
When making their kid’s lunch, 41% said they prioritize child-approved foods, while 37% prioritize nutrient-dense foods. Nearly a fifth (19%) prioritize speed and convenience.
“Ultimately, parents want the same thing for their kids: to be healthy and well-fed,” continued Largeman-Roth. “What’s interesting about this study is how different parents are taking different approaches to achieve the same goal with their kids. Something nutrient-dense that still gets that kid stamp of approval, like yogurt, can help satisfy the wants of kids and needs of parents.”
WHAT PARENTS AND KIDS SAY IS NEEDED FOR A “GOOD LUNCH”
According to parents:
A “main” and a “snack” – 53%
Water – 51%
Juice – 42%
Something nutrient-dense – 39%
Milk – 35%
A source of high, animal-based protein – 34%
According to kids:
A “main” and a “snack” – 50%
Something sweet – 44%
Juice – 40%
Water – 33%
Milk – 25%
Something savory – 23%
Survey methodology:
Talker Research surveyed 2,000 American parents of school-aged children; the survey was commissioned by Chobani and administered and conducted online by Talker Research between May 8 and May 15, 2025.
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