Overview
The BDA is calling on the UK Government to extend free school meal provision to all primary school children. By ensuring universal access to nutritious meals, we can address health disparities, alleviate financial burdens on families, and shape a healthier, more equitable generation. This aligns with the BDA's vision of improving the health of the UK population and advancing the interests of our members.
A dietetic vision for universal free school meals in primary schools
What children eat shapes how they grow, think and learn. School meals have the power to fuel curiosity, sustain attention and nurture wellbeing throughout the day, providing nourishment to support both body and mind. A quality free school meal does more than fill a plate, it gives children access to diverse food every school day, in an environment where every child feels included and inspired to eat well.
The BDA campaign for free school meals focuses on expanding universal free school meals to all primary aged children, because primary school is arguably the most formative period for shaping children’s eating habits, social behaviours and long-term health. Practically, they often have simpler catering operations and more consistent meal uptake, making universal provision easier and faster to implement at scale, which would provide a strong model for expanding into secondary schools as a priority after all children at primary level receive a universal free school meal in the UK.
Why is nourishing every child important?
- Poor nutrition in childhood often leads to poorer health both in childhood and later in life, placing an additional burden on health and care services, which is entirely avoidable.
- Universal free school meals for all primary school children needs to be considered as an essential provision for the health, social, physical and cognitive development of children in both the long and short term.
- Dietitians and other healthcare professionals can play a key role in highlighting the issues and benefits and continuing to raise awareness of the importance of providing free school meals for every primary school age child.
- Our Nourish Every Child resource outlines the dietetic case for free school meals, and the far-reaching benefits of universal provision.
What are our key asks?
- Nations across the UK should commit to making free school meals universal for all children in primary school.
- Every school should adopt a Whole School Food Approach embedding food, nutrition and sustainability into the heart of school life.
- Free school meals must better align with current evidence-based, nutritional advice to ensure that children have the energy and quality nutrition needed to get the most from their school days now, and for the benefit of their future health.
What can you do to move this vision forward?
- Get in touch with the BDA’s campaign working group:
- They are directly involved with key stakeholders in free school meals and have key activities planned to support dietetic involvement in building momentum for realising free school meals: [email protected]
- Join other campaigns relevant to your expertise
- The No Child Left Behind – Free school meals for all campaign is focused on England and always looking for people to take direct action.
- Use our Political 101 Toolkit
- Engage with your own local elected representatives in pushing for the vision for universal primary free school meals.