Child-Driven Assessment of Plate Waste and Food-Waste Awareness in Primary Schools

Food waste in school canteens is widely recognized as a significant issue because of its economic consequences, environmental impact, and implications for children's health. Previous studies have used robust methods to quantify this problem and assess mitigation strategies. This case study of primary school children (6-11 years) used a child-driven approach to measure plate waste and explore reasons for uneaten food and concern about waste. The results indicated that a group of volunteer children (n = 104) directly involved in the assessment were able to evaluate their peers' food waste, obtaining estimates comparable to those reported in previous studies (mean: 108.4 g per child). The students for whom food waste was measured (n = 443) took part in interviews and proved to be active participants capable of evaluating their own context, although their level of engagement could be further strengthened. Among children who reported leaving food uneaten, a substantial proportion provided specific reasons; nevertheless, generic explanations accounted for 26% of responses for the first course and 35% for the second. Approximately 78.5% of the children demonstrated a high level of sensitivity to food waste, recognizing its direct effects (wasting their parents' money), indirect effects (waste in a broader sense), and social effects (world hunger/poverty). Establishing a baseline for children's sensitivity to their own food waste is therefore needed, as it could serve as an indicator of both the urgency and the effectiveness of educational interventions.