Childhood obesity rates are a major concern for public health and should be a priority.
Free School Meals.
It is very exciting to see that there is a new initiative to expand Free School Meals across all primary and secondary schools across the country.
Children spend most of their days in school and offering healthy whole foods is a sure way of improving their health. By offering free school meals, one of the desired outcomes is to reduce obesity prevalence in children as we know that the n1 cause of obesity is food.
What are the associated costs of this idea?
“The costs associated with expanding Free School Meals across all primary and secondary schools in England have been estimated at £2.5 billion per year.”
That can seem like a lot, but when we consider that the NHS currently spends £6.0 billion on obesity-related costs, it’s only half.
This initiative can actually have a bigger return on investment.
How much?
“Analysis of Universal Free School Meals has shown that for every £1 invested is estimated to bring a return of £1.71. Taken over a 20-year period, this could generate nearly £ 100 billion to our economy. “
This is incredibly exciting and it is a step in the right direction in improving the nation’s health.
What kind of foods will be provided?
The report that supports this policy highlights that there is evidence that school meals are generally more nutritious than packed lunches.
However, we also know that nutrition standards could be improved in schools, therefore, this begs the question: What kind of foods will be offered?
Will we offer meals rich in whole foods, or will we give the children cheese and ham toast?
You can check the full report here: Good Food For Children Full Report.
