Eating habits are formed during childhood[1]; they influence how we process information and can prevent behavioural change[2]. This highlights the need to provide nutritional information from early stages in life.

We strongly believe nutritional education should be a compulsory module in schools as nutrition is a core skill everyone deserves to have and needs in order to make informed food choices.

[1]https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28407627/

[2]https://www.researchgate.net/publication/258770228_Habits_as_barriers_to_changing_behaviour

Why is healthy eating important?

· To promote healthy eating in schools, it’s vital to encourage children to eat a wide-ranging, nutrient-rich diet from an early age. School meals should be at the very heart of this process. They are often the only opportunity for a child to consume a variety of fresh ingredients. And they are an important weapon in the fight against childhood obesity.

· Many families lack the time, knowledge or ability to prepare truly well-balanced, nutritious meals. This can often be the case for low-income households.

· Instead, these families may have to rely on cheap but unhealthy fast food, particularly in inner-city areas where takeaway options are inexpensive and readily available. These options are high in unhealthy saturated fats and additives, offering little in the way of fresh, wholesome ingredients.

· Here, we are focusing on the knowledge aspect as this will enable students to gain more knowledge on their health and diet.

· We can control the nutritional content and ensure healthy eating guidelines are adhered to. There is law and policy on healthy food in schools in the form of the school food standards to enforce this.

encouraging-healthy-eating-in-schools.html#:~:text=A%20nutritious%20diet%20is%20essential,establish%20their%20lifelong%20eating%20habits.

Why is healthy eating important in schools?

· It’s important to educate children at an early age about eating healthy foods. Eating healthy helps a child maintain their concentration and energy levels. This helps a child to effectively learn throughout the school day.

· In 2010 the Government introduced new food standards across schools. This law was to provide children with healthy balanced diets. Nowadays schools must provide nutritious meals to all children and school dinners must now serve healthy whole foods. Foods such as meat, poultry or oily fish and vegetables, bread, cereals and potatoes are essential for children to have a healthy diet.

· Even though nutritious meals are provided to all students, there is still a gap in the knowledge of what they are eating and how it will benefit them. Having the knowledge of diet and health will put students in the right direction of improving their physical and mental health.

https://www.dolce.co.uk/why-is-healthy-eating-important-in-schools/#:~:text=Eating%20healthy%20helps%20a%20child,Control%20and%20Prevention%20(CDC).

​​Why is healthy eating important?

https://uk.sodexo.com/inspired-thinking/insights/encouraging-healthy-eating-in-schools.html#:~:text=A%20nutritious%20diet%20is%20essential,establish%20their%20lifelong%20eating%20habits.

Why is healthy eating important in schools?

· Even though nutritious meals are provided to all students, there is still a gap in the knowledge of what they are eating and how it will benefit them. Having the knowledge of diet and health will put students in the right direction of improving their physical and mental health.

https://www.dolce.co.uk/why-is-healthy-eating-important-in-schools/#:~:text=Eating%20healthy%20helps%20a%20child,Control%20and%20Prevention%20(CDC).

Why is healthy eating important?