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Updated: Jul 9, 2025
06:48
Breakfast Habits among Schoolchildren in the City of Uruguaiana, Brazil
Published on: July 29, 2020
4.6K
It is time: free meals at schools for all
Daniel Henrique Bandoni1, Isabela Cicaroni Ottoni2, Ana Laura Benevenuto Amorim1,3
1Nutrition and Food Service Research Center, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), Santos, Brazil.
The British Journal of Nutrition
|November 28, 2023
Summary
Universal school feeding programmes (SFP) offer significant benefits, including improved nutrition and academic performance. Evidence supports providing healthy, free school meals for all students to combat food insecurity.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Nutrition Science
- Education Policy
Background:
- School feeding programmes (SFP) are crucial for child health and nutrition.
- The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted vulnerabilities in food systems, increasing child food insecurity.
- Debate exists on universal versus targeted SFP approaches.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the link between school feeding programmes and healthy eating/health outcomes.
- To evaluate the benefits of universal SFP in diverse country contexts.
- To advocate for universal, free school meal provision.
Main Methods:
- Review of studies on school feeding programmes across different countries.
- Analysis of policy debates regarding universal vs. targeted SFP.
- Examination of evidence from comprehensive SFP in Brazil and India.
Main Results:
- SFPs are linked to improved nutritional status and academic performance.
- Universal programmes demonstrate benefits for sustainable food systems and school attendance.
- Examples from Brazil and India showcase the positive impact of free, universal SFP.
Conclusions:
- Universal school feeding programmes provide substantial benefits for students' health and education.
- Current evidence supports the expansion of free, healthy school meals for all children.
- Policy action is needed to implement universal SFP to address food insecurity.
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