Views & Opinion Ensuring good nutrition and hydration in pupils and the key


role these play in supporting development and learning Comment by EMILY STUART, Dietitian, apetito


You only need to have spent time with a child who is hungry to see how important it is for them to stay well-fuelled and hydrated so they can grow, develop, learn, and play. Therefore, it’s important for us (as the adults who are responsible for providing children with these things) to ask ourselves – how do we ensure that this happens? What does good nutrition for children look like and how can we make sure we achieve


it whilst providing tempting, tasty and nutritious food that keeps them coming back for more?


This article explores how we can help with meeting the nutritional needs of children, by planning balanced and varied lunchtime meals; and the importance of doing this even when there are specific dietary needs, preferences, or requirements present.


Principles of good nutrition in school-aged children Planning balanced meals for children at school can help to support the period of rapid growth that they go through during their school years. If growing children do not get enough variety in their diet, they can experience the effects of nutrient deficiencies or faltered growth. Of the evidence available that looks at the effect of nutritious school lunches on attainment levels, the focus does tend to be on those children receiving free school meals in a state school setting. Although this research focus is essential to help address inequalities, it cannot show us the whole picture. One study that did look at both children receiving free school meals and those who weren’t, found that children who ate a balanced school lunch (planned in line with School Food Standards) within a considered environment, had: • Higher levels of alertness (concentration/engagement) in the hour following lunch • Showed significantly improved teacher-pupil and pupil-pupil ‘on-task’ alertness levels


These benefits were found when compared to a control group and the study was carried out on primary-aged school children. The environment was key to this research, and adjustments were made to improve the environment of the dining area for the study group. For example, they applied staggered lunchtimes to reduce queueing, changed the layout of chairs and tables, and played music in dining rooms.


Specific research aside, it is broadly agreed that children who are fed well, learn well.


Planning balanced and varied meals at lunchtime A lunchtime meal for a child at school can contribute around 30% of their overall food and nutrition intake for the day. A practical way to help schools to focus on good dietary habits is to consider the nutritional pattern set out in the government’s Eatwell Guide, and to use practical guidance from the School Food Standards. The Eatwell Guide is considered appropriate for most children over five years of age. It shows how much of what you eat overall should come from each food group, for example, sharing well-known nutrition messages such as: • The benefits of eating more fruit and vegetables • The benefits of eating more plant-based foods, reducing red and processed meat intake


• Increasing wholegrain foods provides us with a sustained source of May 2023


energy, B-vitamins, and fibre • We should be eating more sustainably sourced oily fish (or alternative omega-3 source for vegetarians) • Dairy foods and fortified alternatives provide essential vitamins and minerals such as calcium, protein, and zinc


School Food Standards provides easy to use, practical advice for menu planning and those working in a school kitchen and who are responsible for planning menus in schools are wise to familiarise themselves with their advice. It contains advice on menu planning and food groups and on meeting needs for specific nutrients that are often lacking in school aged children, such as zinc, calcium, and fibre.


Planning balanced menus whilst catering for a change in dietary trends


Dietary needs in school are evolving and with allergies on the rise, many families are now choosing to raise their children on a vegetarian or plant-focused diet for many reasons. These include animal welfare, budget, the environment, or for health reasons.


Vegetarian dishes must not contain any part of an animal including meat, fats, or derivatives such as gelatine or rennet. In addition, vegan dishes must not contain any ingredients which come from an animal including dairy, eggs, or honey. There are plenty of foods vegetarians and vegans can eat, and a well-balanced vegetarian diet can provide for the needs of children and adolescents. What’s more, all children can enjoy plant-based meals.


Schools might want to consider introducing an initiative like Meat Free Mondays to their menus as a way of increasing variety and designing menus with a focus on sustainability. Alternatively, menus could include a meat-free option that is like the meat option to promote inclusivity.


When following a vegan diet there are some specific nutritional considerations to remember. Poorly planned vegan diets can be inadequate in nutrients such as calcium, iron, and vitamin B12. The Vegan Society is a fantastic resource for anyone wishing to follow a well-balanced vegan diet. Resources include essential information such as supplementation and information on nutrient-rich vegan foods, and a section for children’s diets and school menu planning. We all live in a wonderfully varied culture with wide-ranging religious and cultural beliefs, and it’s essential for schools to recognise this and be aware of the varying dietary needs that accompany these cultures and religions. Some children may exclude certain foods from their diet, while others may have specific dietary requirements such as halal or kosher.


Considerations outside of nutrition


We’ve explored how a balanced diet can support children to grow and learn well. Yet, enjoyment of eating and the social aspect of mealtimes must not be overlooked. Simple changes to your school dining room can make a difference to the environment. Things to consider may include reviewing your meal service system to see if you could make it more efficient and therefore faster, thus reducing queuing time for children.


Changing the layout of the dining room may also help; and encouraging teachers to eat with the children and engage them in conversations about the food, their interests and what they are doing at school can be beneficial. When serving food, it’s important to consider the visual aspects, such as contrasting colours and textures, using garnish where appropriate and ensuring the variety and choice is clear for children to see and that they are encouraged to try new things regularly.


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