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?

Giving them access to a glass of milk and an apple per day, free vaccinations for childhood illnesses and free dental checkups, along with banning sugary drinks at school; would help save money in the long run.

As people have said, providing it would only be beneficial if it is actually eaten. Would you take away the choice to send in a packed lunch? DS is still young enough that he gets a free lunch and I'm surprised by the percentage of parents who provide a packed lunch instead despite this - it's probably about a third of his class. It's partially a habit thing, I think: I've noticed that almost without exception the kids who went to the local preschool, where they have packed lunches, now don't eat school dinners, whereas most (but not all) of the ones who went to private nursery do.

I think universal free school dinners is a pretty poor use of public money. I like that we don't pay currently but it doesn't change our habits at all so it really is just the state giving my family something that we otherwise could and would pay for. I'd much rather see an expansion of the eligibility for free school meals, which would also then cover secondary school pupils.

@Butterdishy

A possible solution would be to have a meeting /online tutorial with the parents at the beginning of the school year on what to provide in a balanced healthy Lynch and what not to, then issue them with a pdf of affordable lynch options and items that should or shouldn’t be included, the talk could include an area where the importance of having a healthy lunch / breakfast is stressed in relation to their performance in school and overall health

I would prefer it if they could fund the ones they have started before they think of others. The current universal free school meals is not fully funded.

I highly doubt the problem parents would attend, let alone take any notice unfortunately. Which why I think we need to focus on the children.

Yes, I think universal free school meals, freshly cooked and planned for optimum nutrition, would be a huge leap forward and would save billions in long-term health outcomes.

The problem is the good old British knee-jerk reaction against "something for nothing". People would rather two children starve than one get a meal they technically didn't need.

I think it’s very hard to produce nutritious food that children will eat on that scale.

There are some very ignorant comments about vegetarian meals though that do perhaps shed some light on the kind of attitudes that are contributing to poor nutrition.

Off topic, but somehow just from reading your post about spinach and eggs I thought you might be in Sweden 😊

School lunches aren't very healthy and you can make them as healthy as you like at school but if you eat shit at home there is no point

Step one should be opening school kitchens back up. No more of this soggy food kept warm for hours by catering firms.
It would also be beneficial for the kids to hear, smell and even see their food being prepared IMO. Too many kids aren't exposed to cooking at home beyond sticking some nuggets and chips in the air fryer.

Children can't concentrate if they are hungry.

Universal free school meals help ensure every child gets at least one hot nutritious meal each school day. That's what they do in my country, every child gets a hot lunch and salad and bread and water/milk/buttermilk. Children serve themselves so there's less food waste as they take as much as they know they will eat (the first few weeks of 1st grade you get some children with eyes bigger than their bellies taking too much but they soon learn) and they aim for healthy meals and no puddings except special occasions. And in primary school class teachers sit with their class to eat lunch, modelling good table manners and keeping an eye out if anyone has issues with lunch.

Even my post-16 college has free school meals for everyone

Kids in contries in Europe have brilliant, healthy free school meals while British kids visit chippies and mcdonald. We are an embarrassment of incompetence and low ambition.

Correct 😂

I would provide free breakfast for all, not lunch. In primary, it would help parents work by having breakfast club type childcare from say 8am. For all ages, providing breakfast would stop children being distracted by hunger and help them learn. Waiting until lunch means they are only full up to learn for a couple of hours in the afternoon. The parents who can drop their kids off earlier can then go to work for 9 and earn more, thereby being taxed more. All round win and cheaper than lunches.

What 'ignorant' comments?
If you are referring the those suggesting that meals containing meat can be just as healthy and not actually any worse for the environment, then that is true.

@dearymcdearface but most of that is not edible for kids. I wouldn't even be able to eat most, super fancy with weird veg.
And the salad bar is rabbit food, completely unsuitable.
I'd be hitting the roof if they only provided veggie / complicated fussy food like this. Very very few kids would be able to just try things like moussaka!

There are a lot of ignorant comments assuming veggie us better than meat. Clearly ideological as meat is essential. No veggie options are anywhere near as good for iron and amino acids.

How can you say meat is essential when big chunks of the world are vegetarian?

I assumed you mean there would be a vegetarian option. My eldest has to eat a low fibre diet, so he would have had to skip a vegetarian school meal.

You've identified a big part of the problem then haven't you? Why wouldn't most kids try moussaka? It's basically a spruced up shepherds pie with aubergine in. The individual ingredients should really all be very familiar. If they haven't tried it at home, couldn't possibly try it at school, when will they?

Look again. There is a veggie and a meat alternative most days. Are you saying kids can’t eat sausages, chili con carne or moussaka? Or vegetables? Then it’s you that has a big problem, not the kids in my country.

Moussaka and Shepherds Pie are actually quite different, and even as an adult the texture of aubergine turns my stomach. I can eat mince though.

Well yes of course they are different, but visually and in terms of the ingredients it really shouldn't be beyond a typical child to eat it. Not everyone shares your dislike of aubergine, obviously.

A traditional moussaka and a traditional shepherd's pie (or cottage pie) look and taste quite different. As for aubergines, I'd say that lots of people, especially children, don't really enjoy them. Even when I was a vegetarian and ate most veggie based meals I avoided aubergines (and often had to push aside). They are one of the least popular vegetables.