According to the authors, providing nutritious meals at a young age breaks negative patterns and lays a solid foundation for cognitive and physical development. The programme not only saves billions, but also promotes social cohesion, equality, better concentration and less stress. Investing in a national school lunch programme lays the foundation for a healthier and more successful future for the Netherlands.
The report distinguishes between three types of benefits:
Economic benefits
An investment of €1 billion can generate significant economic benefits, including €700 million in savings on healthcare costs, nearly €2 billion in reduced absenteeism and increased productivity, and more than €100 million in individual costs. Every euro invested can generate a return of up to five times its value.
Health, education and social equality
The Netherlands is facing rising rates of overweight and obesity, particularly among low-income families. Healthy school lunches promote healthy eating habits and can help reverse this trend. In addition, nutritious meals improve school performance, enabling children to concentrate and perform better. Healthy school lunches also ensure equal access to food, regardless of the home situation, which promotes food security and reduces stress levels. This contributes to a more equal society and supports children's cognitive development.
Non-quantifiable benefits
In addition to measurable savings, there are also non-quantifiable benefits, such as breaking negative eating patterns, increased social cohesion, and a healthier future workforce.
The full study can be downloaded here.