Not eating at school: what effect does this have on young people?

Unhealthy eating habits show clear signs

Unhealthy eating is clearly reflected in the body. Rianne: “It is not only young people who are underweight. Young people with a normal weight or who are overweight sometimes also fail to get enough proper nutrients. For example, they skip breakfast and school lunches and later mainly choose snacks. As a result, they do not get enough vitamins and energy. These deficiencies cause various complaints. Young people become tired more quickly, have more difficulty concentrating and feel lethargic. We also see physical complaints such as hair loss, skin problems, feeling cold quickly and dizziness. Recently, a girl came to my consultation room who had fainted several times. Young people with these complaints also visit their GP or other healthcare providers.”

Rianne says that schools can often recognise these signs at an early stage and share their concerns with the youth doctor. “Think of concentration problems in class, mood swings, headaches or a pupil who looks very tired. It is important to take this seriously and start a conversation.” The fact that young people often reach for unhealthy snacks is partly due to puberty. "The body’s rhythm changes. Young people get tired later and also get up later. During the day, they look for quick energy, such as sugars or energy drinks," Laure explains.

Peer pressure has a major influence on young people

There are also other factors that influence young people’s eating habits. Peer pressure has a powerful influence in this regard. "The need to fit in means that young people are guided by what the group does. Vaping, bullying and eating habits are examples of this," Laure explains. Not eating at school can be seen as ‘normal’ within a group. "Some young people are afraid of standing out. For example, because of their food choices or noises made while eating. They then choose not to eat at all."

Social media and influencers also play a role. "When a popular TikToker shows a particular snack or eating pattern, it feels to young people like a normal snack or an achievable eating pattern. Taking part in such trends can provide social status, but it does not always result in a healthy eating pattern," says Laure.

Schools and parents/carers can help young people deal with this effectively by strengthening their resilience. Laure: "A pupil who is allowed to choose today will learn to make better choices later. Someone who learns to discover their boundaries will also be able to express them later. And someone who is allowed to be themselves will dare to remain themselves later. That is why it is important for schools and parents/carers to give young people a degree of self-confidence, so that later they can rely on themselves when making difficult choices."

Involving pupils works

Actively involving pupils in healthy eating is important. Laure: "Talk to pupils. Ask how they experience food at school and what they would like to change themselves. This can be done in class, with a short survey or with discussion cards about nutrition." This makes pupils feel heard and involved in their own choices. "Challenges, such as a healthy lunch week or helping to think about the menu, also help them experience healthy behaviour together and create a positive group norm. This means the offerings are better aligned with what they enjoy and like to eat, and healthy eating becomes their own," Laure suggests. Youth workers can also play a role here, Rianne knows from experience. For example, in the neighbourhood, where a group of young people cook together.

A healthy school cafeteria helps

Healthy food becomes more attractive when it is easy to obtain, presented well and colourfully, and affordable. Show that healthy eating is normal, and set a good example yourself. "Together, we do our best to encourage healthy eating habits. This is not easy, especially given the tempting unhealthy choices outside school. Lessons about nutrition help young people make conscious choices. Programmes such as Krachtvoer and Weet wat je Eet offer practical tools for schools to incorporate this into the curriculum," says Laure.

Schools where at least 30% of pupils grow up in a family with a low income can register for the School Meals Programme of the Jeugdeducatiefonds and the Netherlands Red Cross.

Working with parents/carers

Parents and carers also have a great deal of influence, Laure explains. Schools can inform them through newsletters or parent meetings and provide tips on how they can discuss this at home. The Loes website is a useful resource. It contains practical tips, for example about what to do if your teenager eats unhealthily. Schools can refer to this and give pupils assignments in which they cook something healthy together at home.

Tailored advice for schools

We work together to encourage healthy eating habits. "There is no quick solution to unhealthy eating habits among young people, but there are many possibilities," says Laure. "Healthy School advisers can help schools step by step with advice that suits the school, the pupils and the surroundings. A healthy food environment within the school can thus help encourage healthy behaviour. Together with pupils and parents and carers, healthy choices can become part of everyday life."

Questions?

Schools can contact the Healthy School adviser via [email protected].