75% of Muslim mums stressed about school lunches - with 92% sending a meal from home

Three quarters of British Muslim mums say they feel stressed about making their children's lunches with the vast majority preparing food at home rather than using school meals, according to new research.

The survey revealed that 92% of Muslim parents send kids off with a packed lunch, despite two thirds believing schools provide enough halal options.

Nearly all mums (98%) said that ensuring food was halal was a top priority, with other concerns including how filling it was, whether it was nutritious and if their child would compare what was in their lunchbox with their friends.

Cost was also a factor with 22% of mothers citing the price of packed lunches as a concern, according to the research by halal cooked meat brand Najma.

Nilly Dahlia, a mum of three from East Sussex said: "As a Muslim mother, packing a lunchbox isn't just about food, it's about identity, love and care.

"I never had halal options growing up so being able to give my children variety, flavour, and confidence in what they eat feels deeply healing. It's a quiet joy knowing they feel seen - even at lunchtime."

Mum and cookbook author Anisa Karolia, from Leicester, added: "Packing a halal lunchbox gives Muslim parents confidence their children won't go hungry, while keeping with Islamic values and beliefs."

The survey found almost all Muslim children's lunchboxes contain some kind of halal food, whether it's meat (79%) or dairy (55%). Other favourite items include fresh or dried fruits, wraps and sandwiches and rice, pasta and bread.

Around 40% include a chocolate bar or vegetable sticks, 39% include crisps and 23% contain sweets - although in Wales sweets feature in 80% of packed lunches.

More than a quarter (27%) of kids' lunchboxes contain only home cooked foods rising to half in Scotland and three quarters in Northern Ireland.

Finding suitable halal foods was a particularly acute problem in Scotland where 88% of parents said they struggled, compared with 50% nationwide.

There are around 3.9m Muslims in the UK, including 700,000 children aged five to 15 - accounting for one in ten UK children. It is the fastest-growing minority group in the country.

Karama Khudairi, senior brand manager for Najma said: "We recognise that Muslim mums often find it a real challenge preparing school lunchboxes for their children. They want to give their kids options that are not only halal but also taste great and enable them to fit in with the rest of their class.

"However, half of the mums who responded to our research struggled to find trusted halal foods in the supermarket, resulting in just three per cent of lunchboxes containing only shop bought items.

"Parents need a wider variety of halal convenience food in the supermarket which can help alleviate some of the stress of packing a suitable lunchbox. Crucially these must be from halal brands like Najma that people can trust.

"We want to help Muslim mums by offering a broad range of delicious lunchbox solutions we know their kids will love."

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Top tips for a delicious halal lunch box

Always check that ingredients are clearly labelled with halal certification.

The 1/2 - 1/4 - 1/4 rule: Each lunch should be half veggies and fruits, a quarter protein (which could include halal meat, eggs and legumes) and a quarter grains (pita, rice, couscous).

Prep in advance: Prepare lunchbox items the night before where possible. It can save time on busy mornings while keeping lunches exciting.

Variety is key. Rotate between fillings to keep lunch interesting; chicken slices one day, turkey wraps the next. Use in chapattis, wraps, pitta-pockets and rolls.

Make lunchtime fun: Involve your child in packing the lunch and let them choose from meats, veg, and snack options. Children are more likely to eat what they prepare.

Kids eat with their eyes: Colourful lunches mean more chance of an empty lunchbox! Mix in bright fruit and veg such as carrots, celery sticks, cherry tomatoes and berries.

Including dips or spreads which are halal friendly - hummus or any yoghurt-based dips make veggies fun to eat and also add nutrition.

Thermal containers are a game changer. If you want your child to enjoy a warm, comforting lunch at school, these are your best friends. Just pour in boiling water for five minutes, empty it out, then add in hot food like leftover biryani, curry, noodles, or Najma halal sausages. It stays steaming hot until lunchtime!