A new study into food provided at private pre-schools has found most aren't meeting nutritional guidelines.

The University of Auckland research has pulled the wrapper off pre-schools serving up too much junk food.

Researcher Sarah Gerritsen said they're meant to be adhering to the Ministry of Education's Fuelled for Life nutritional guidelines.

But she told Mike Hosking around half of private pre-schools in Auckland and Waikato are putting poor food choices on their menus.

"These are food like chocolate biscuits, sugary drinks, confectionary, cakes." 

She said it's surprising to find community-based pre-schools are much better at following the nutritional guidelines.

LISTEN ABOVE AS SARAH GERRITSEN SPEAKS WITH MIKE HOSKING