Half of British parents feel pressure to make kids' packed lunches 'Instagrammable'

More than half of British parents feel under pressure to rustle up Instagram-worthy school lunches - forking out a whopping £1,440 a year doing so.

Gone are the days of a squashed sarnie, juice carton and a packet of crisps, as 54% of parents admit they've changed how they make their kid's lunch box based on a social media trend.

The same number (54%) admit they now spend longer carefully crafting their children's lunches than they used to.

With more than 200,000 videos using the hashtag #lunchboxideas and creators such as @lunchboxdad racking up to 1.5million views on his videos, it's unsurprising parents are feeling the pressure.

Ocado quizzed 2,000 UK parents and discovered that half (49%) said they try to make meals more nutritious, while 45% admit they compare their child's lunchbox to ones they see online or in the playground.

But it seems parents aren't just feeling the pressure, they're paying for it too.

Almost seven in ten (69%) admitted they're spending more on packed lunches than two to three years ago.

With the average cost per month now coming in at £120 per child, that's a whopping £1,440 a year - and even more for those families with multiple children.

In a bid to meet the mounting pressure, 43% of parents said they've had to cut back on other household spending so they can afford it.

As the kids head back to school this week, Ocado is committed to ensuring that lunchtime prep doesn't have to come with a hefty price tag.

This September the UK's leading online grocer will once again be launching its Big Savings Event, where parents can access family-friendly offers on thousands of products.

This reflects the brand's ongoing commitment to provide customers with reassuringly good value as shown through the growth of its Ocado Own Range.

This now includes more than 700 products, with more than 50 new products welcomed to the site this year alone.

Dan Elton at Ocado said: "We know that parents have enough to juggle this September and the pressure to make picture-perfect lunchboxes is only adding to it.

"At Ocado, we want to help parents focus on the things that really matter - feeding their children varies and nutritious lunches that don't break the bank.

"That's why we're proud to have launched our biggest ever Big Savings Event this month alongside continuing to increase our Ocado Own Range offering.

"Customers can enjoy good value produce without feeling like they need to compromise on quality."

Throughout September, Ocado will also feature a series of recipes on Instagram, providing parents with inspiration for budget-friendly lunchboxes and easy mid-week meals - which you can find here https://www.instagram.com/ocadouk/

TOP 5 MOST EXPENSIVE LUNCHBOX ITEMS

Sandwiches (44%)

Carton of juice (36%)

Yoghurt (32%)

Apple (28%)

Chicken pieces (27%)