In 2005, Jamie Oliver launched the ‘Feed me better’ campaign, in the aim of improving the wellbeing of pupils by making healthy meals accessible within schools across the UK. However, speaking ten years on from the campaigns launch, Mr Oliver claims to have ‘failed’ in his bid to abolish poor quality school meals.
Despite this claim, researchers suggest that contrary to Jamie Oliver’s beliefs, the campaign has in fact been a success. Many allude to the fact that not only has his campaign improved the general health of pupils, it has also increased their attendance and subsequently their exam results.
Research undertaken by Cardiff University supports this notion. The research examined 100 Welsh schools and showed positive links between healthy eating and improved exam results. The research also indicated that eating a substantial and healthy breakfast before school is the most beneficial meal of the day for students, providing them with vital energy required to perform well at all levels of education.
Legislation imposes that schools must abide by the ‘School Food Standards’. These standards stipulate that schools must provide high-quality meat, fruit, vegetables, bread and potatoes. Alongside this, crisps, chocolate and all drinks with added sugar must be banned.
As an alternative to school meals, some children choose to take a packed lunch to school. This can be beneficial for pupils, allowing them to skip the lunch queues, as well as enabling them to choose their own foods. However, some parents are failing to pack healthy lunches for their children. According to a number of teachers, concerns have been raised following the contents of some packed lunches, which have been known to include left-over takeaways, tic-tac’s and cans of red bull.
School meals must follow the school food standards in an effort to keep children healthy. On the other hand, pupils who take packed lunches to school may be missing out on a vital healthy living opportunity. Schools can tackle this by banning certain food and drinks from being consumed in schools, and by providing parents with recommendations regarding the appropriate contents of a packed lunch.
