Healthy eating in schools boosts behaviour and wellbeing

As children return to the classroom following half term, new figures reveal the importance of nutritious food whilst at school, not only to health and wellbeing, but to behaviour trends too.

Trussell research highlights that around 9.3 million people in the UK, including three million children, are experiencing food insecurity and today, one in four children under the age of five are at risk of needing to use a food bank. This is a problem that can be particularly heightened in the school holidays. Last summer, one in 12 respondents said that in the past their children have had to miss meals due to financial constraints – a problem alleviated during term time by access to free school meals.

The new report by Tesco and the British Nutrition Foundation shows that giving access to simple fruit and veg at school can completely transform children’s nutrition, boosting vitamins and nutrients significantly. While 94% of teachers said the switch in diet made a real change in the classroom, with sharper focus, more energy and better behaviour.

Aston spoke to Claire de Silva, group head of community at Tesco.

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