School meals provide food for thought

SHOULD we be discouraged by the findings from Glasgow's school canteens that the introduction of healthy foods has been followed by a decline in the numbers of pupils taking school meals?

Figures show the uptake of school meals in Glasgow alone fell from 61 per cent in 2006, when the new regulations limiting salt, fat and sugar content were introduced, to as low as 24 per cent in some schools.

Across Scotland, the total number of dinners served up has fallen by 5.7 million per year since 2002.

That seems a hefty rejection and may result in pupils receiving less nutrition, rather than more. But eating habits can be slow to change. Imaginative approaches to the canteen setting have helped. But perhaps there was an over-expectation at the outset that pupils would accept one diet over another. A more gradualist approach might have resulted in a higher take-up rate.

Another important implication is that changing eating habits cannot be done by schools alone. It needs the active encouragement and involvement of parents. Some will be difficult to engage, but the majority of parents, if kept informed of the longer-term benefits that accrue and offered practical help where necessary, would be prepared to pursue improvement.

Thus schools, reinforced by steps towards healthier eating at home, could have more success and look forward to more encouraging results over time.