A poor diet during childhood can lead to all kinds of health problems down the road, including an increased risk of heart disease, stroke and high blood pressure. Obesity means children can’t always join in with their friends and can lead to bullying and self- esteem issues. Frances Meek is
education services manager at the British Nutrition Foundation and leads its Food – A Fact Of Life programme, which
provides teaching resources for pupils aged three to 16. She explains the importance of adopting a whole-school approach, where food as
education is spread across the day. ‘Schools need to consider breakfast
clubs, the food they serve at lunchtime and wraparound care at the end of the day. Every time pupils encounter food at school, it should align with the right nutritional messages,’ she says. Children living in the most
Educating children about nutrition lets them make healthy choices for the rest of their life, says Carol Rogerson
sleeping in their blankety bed’ from Caulifl owers Fluffy, older pupils race home to plant seeds and sell produce in the surprise-hit Roblox game Grow a Garden. But when it’s time to eat real food, are they learning how to make healthy choices? Recent fi gures from the National Child Measurement Programme
A 14 AUTUMN 2025 School Fundraising
s a fresh intake of children learns to sing: ‘The apples are ripe, and the plums are red. The broad beans are
show that almost one in fi ve children entering Reception is living with obesity, increasing to one in three by the time they reach Year 6. NHS data from 2022 highlights that 19% of 11 to 15 year olds are classed as obese. Good nutrition is essential for
maintaining physical health, which is why experts recommend aiming for at least fi ve servings of fruit and vegetables every day. In addition, recent research suggests that what we eat also affects our mental health.
deprived places are more than twice as likely to be affected by obesity as those in privileged areas. While schools should recognise the impact of the cost of living on families’ food choices, they are in a strong position to provide nutritional information to parents and carers to help children apply their learning.
Get hands on In primary schools across England
and Wales, cooking and nutrition form just one component of the design and technology curriculum. With so little available time, teachers sometimes struggle with leading practical food lessons in small classroom spaces. It’s not easy to manage a class of 30 young children with sharp knives and hot equipment.
IMAGES: DENPHUMI; ZLYKA2008/
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