Would giving all children free school meals actually safe the public purse money long term?

[Kendodd]

Really good quality, highly nutritional, tailored to children's needs and vegetarian. I know this would cost a lot, but if it improves the nations health long term, would it actually cost less?

Well this thread is eye opening - surely a decent meal at lunchtime isn’t too much to ask for our growing children?

Here is my son’s options for yesterday’s and today’s lunch in senior school.

A starter, hot main course, sides, laitage and pudding.

I think your children deserve this too.

London primary schools are currently managing with it.

@Reugny I don't know of any state London primaries where it's only one meal option and you have to sit and eat it all - like it or lump it.

There are families in the UK without enough to eat which is why foodbanks exist.

The kids in these families having their classmates eat with them and the same food don't feel left out.

SIMD is 77% in deciles 1 -3 at DC's primary school. 96% uptake of FSMs in a recent school report apparently. There's a demand for it.

Collectively having FSMs in schools reduces stigma too. If all children eat similarly during the week, less chance of being picked on.

Tbh I think his recipes were quite tame
Variations of crap food made healthy.
But the kids and their parents preferred chips! Maybe that aligned with, they know better attitude
Embarrassing

Myself and my cousin went to the same schools
We all had fairly healthy school dinners in those days

At home my parents cooked traditional healthy meals, lots of cabbage!
My cousins were fed easy meals. Out of a tin or the early stick in the oven meals.
My parents only ever bought rich tea biscuits as a treat
My aunt bought every manner of creamy, chocolaty cakes and biscuits you could imagine, along with crisps and fizzy drinks

I now, and my dh , actually cook meals for the family, just like my parents did.
My cousins do not. Yesterday they went to the ice cream parlour for their evening meal, yes that’s just ice cream and the day before McDonalds.
My cousin who finishes work at 3pm and home by 3-30 ( her dh doesn’t get h9me till 8pm) says she can’t be bothered and can never think of what to feed them.
Her three kids of 17, 15 and 12 are all obese and have been for some time.

So I agree healthy eating needs to be at school and at home.

The majority just wouldn’t eat it
gone have the days where kids would eat a set meal like they used to in the 70’s

If we’re thinking about it purely economically - a balanced vegetarian meal is cheaper + avoids the need for special halal / kosher / veggie options

All children (up to P5) in Scotland get free school meals

And that's one of the reasons why we Scot's get to pay more income tax.

It doesn't seem to be saving any money just costing the tax payer more.

In what way?

Yes to providing nutritionally balanced meals to all children every day at school as I agree it would save money long term, and reduce admin costs right now on implementing FSM based on income only.

However, it shouldn't be vegetarian as most DC do eat meat and it can be part of a healthy balanced diet and there is an issue with this at secondary level as there is not enough room for tables or chairs to be used by students at lunchtime. At a local school there are 350 per year and nowhere for them to sit for lunch. This means the school only provides 'grab & go' food at lunch & break (pizza slices, wedges, paninis etc) which isn't healthy or nutritious. You'd have to sort out this problem before they could be offered universally to everyone at school.

We live in an area where all primary school children get free school meals. It is regarded as a very successful scheme in tackling poverty.

No point serving all vegetarian meals of meat eaters aren't keen. It sounds like you are trying to indoctrinate a generation of DC to become vegetarians. Better to offer each DC a meat or a vegetarian option, hot meal. I'd pay extra tax to enable this. I taught for almost 25 years and I've always thought DC concentrates better when not hungry. Also you can't assume because a family seems well off that their DC get a hot meal every day. I'd love all DC to get a hot meal everyday. Also the threshold for free school meals should be higher. It is far too low.

Sadly a few parents would not spend the money on food for their DC. For some DC the free school meal is virtually the only food they get given. Without free school meals some DC would die from hunger.

sorry havent read all this thread. Hopefully someone has pointed out that the key requirement of schools should be to educate children and their focus should be on sorting this out before they branch into things the parents should be doing.

I would also like to see emphasis on cooking/nutrition and budgeting (which could all be taught as proper subjects). this would enable people to manage better throughout their lives and act as role models when they have kids.

why are people fixated with hot meals? some cold meals are actually nutritionally better as they havent had all the nutrients killed.

I'm massively in favor of universal fsm. Have you ever tried to teach a class of hungry kids? Fed brains learn better.
But they need to be proper nutritious, tasty meals full of veggies, healthy fats and meats/pluses. Not carbs with cheese on top and a side of soggy carrots. No use giving them food they won't eat.

Parents should be responsible for feeding their children if they can afford it, they also know what they like and what they are likely to eat, a lot of kids would just turn their noses up at school dinners and not eat most of it, especially if it was very healthy, it would cost the tax payer a fortune

Hot meals are definitely a better idea in the colder months, and might be seen as more appetising by some.

Parents absolutely should be responsible for feeding their kids properly, but they aren't. How do we expect to change that for future generations unless we tackle it head on with proper nutrition and education in school?

Then I think we need to deal with those parents, rather than run this ridiculously wasteful and unhealthy school catering malaky

I do think the access to FSM should be broader as it's a very high threshold and many people who need it miss out currently and there should be more funding for schools; but plenty of parents can afford to pay or choose to send a packed lunch in. I don't think it's needed tbh.

And almost none of that money goes on food, just on staffing. And what food is produced is largely wasted.