1 Children eat and drink more healthily with a healthy school lunch
Research shows that a healthy school lunch provided at school ensures that children eat more fruit, vegetables, and brown and whole-grain bread, drink more milk and water, and consume fewer sugar-sweetened drinks. In these studies, a healthy school lunch means that at least 80% of the offerings come from the Wheel of Five and at most 20% are small choices (daily choices) outside the Wheel of Five.
The researchers also examined whether children started eating more products from the Wheel of Five than they had during lunch from home. For the vast majority of children, this was indeed the case. They also ate considerably fewer weekly choices (slightly larger choices outside the Wheel of Five). The proportion of daily choices remained approximately the same. Six months after the study ended, the children were eating as they had before the school lunch was introduced. Continuously offering healthy food at school is therefore necessary to achieve lasting changes in children's healthy eating habits.
2 Exercise and a healthy lunch have a positive effect on BMI and waist circumference
In one of the studies on the effects of an organized school lunch, a healthy school lunch was combined with exercise. In the short term, the researchers observed a favourable effect of this combination on the children's BMI and waist circumference. Little is yet known about the long-term effects on BMI and waist circumference; more research is needed. But of course, more physical activity can always be offered at school.
3 Providing a healthy school lunch may help reduce inequality
Children start primary school at the age of four and can all be reached through school. It seems logical that if all children have access to a healthy school lunch, this will reduce social inequalities in food intake. Studies from England and Norway have indeed found positive effects of a healthy school lunch in reducing inequalities between social classes.
These effects still need to be studied further, because this may be more complex than you might initially think. More insight is also needed into the effect of providing a school lunch on food intake during the rest of the day. But at least the healthy food they have been offered at school is already a valuable benefit.
4 Food skills as an opportunity
In addition to healthier food choices, a school lunch provided at school offers opportunities to integrate food education and teach food skills. This could include involving children in preparing lunch, letting them taste new things, and discussing food choices during lunch. Parents say they consider it an advantage that children eat together, learn table manners, and taste new products. This is supported by research from abroad, which found a reinforcing effect when school lunches were combined with education, such as growing food themselves, eating at nicely set tables, and preparing food themselves.
Would you also like to offer a healthy school lunch?
Do it properly! Are you enthusiastic and would you like to get started with a school lunch provided at school? Take the time to prepare properly and inform yourself about the options. Ill-considered choices can lead to undesirable effects. Was the milk, for example, placed next to the heater and therefore became lukewarm? No child will choose the milk again in the future. Introducing a school lunch provided at school does not have to happen all at once. You can also take a step-by-step approach and implement each step thoughtfully. For example, start with a themed week about healthy eating.