A big PhunkyFoods ‘like‘ for Deputy PM Nick Clegg’s announcement that all 5-7 year old children in England will receive free school meals from next September! (1) At a time when family budgets are being squeezed in all directions, diseases caused by nutritional deficiencies such as rickets are making a comeback, and childhood obesity rates remain intractably high, this has to be good news.
Currently less than half of primary children opt for school meals (2), instead taking packed lunches which are mostly nutritionally inferior, and all too often contain crisps, confectionery and sugary drinks (3). Reasons for opting out of school lunches include everything from cost, disliking the meals on offer, and long queues, to wanting to sit with their friends on the ‘packed lunch table’. For families eligible for free school meals, stigma can also be a barrier.
Simply providing free school meals is not enough unless the food on offer is nutritious, appealing to children, and served in a pleasant, supportive dining environment, with peer learning, positive adult role models, and help to make healthier choices. The new School Food Plan published in July promises to provide all of this – support for schools struggling with their lunch service, practical checklists and nutrition training for headteachers, and new food based standards for all schools (4). The incentive for headteachers to make this work? If the health of their pupils isn’t enough, surely improvements in concentration, learning and educational attainment in afternoon lessons as a result of a good lunch is a big enough carrot!
Clearly we’d like to see the Government extend their pledge to all primary children – and there is some political will to do just that. But it’s widely accepted that trying new foods and eating a balanced diet from a young age can help shape healthier eating habits in later life, so starting with the youngest children makes sense.
PhunkyFoods stands ready to support primary schools across the UK – we offer a fun, lively cross-curricula healthy lifestyle programme and Community Support Workers providing practical, hands-on help in an expanding number of areas. #Kickingturkeytwizzlersintothelonggrassforever!
References:
1) Department for Education (2013) Press Release. Free school lunch for every child in infant school.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/free-school-lunch-for-every-child-in-infant-school
2) Nelson, M. et al (2012) Seventh annual survey of take up of school lunches in England. http://www.childrensfoodtrust.org.uk/assets/research-reports/seventh_annual_survey2011-2012_full_report.pdf
3) Evans, C.E.L. et al (2010) A cross-sectional survey of children’s packed lunches in the UK: food- and nutrient-based results. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health 64:977-983.
4) Department for Education (2013) School Food Plan. www.schoolfoodplan.com