Hunger in the UK classroom

This chapter starts by presenting a historical account of school food policy in the United Kingdom, including the introduction of free school meals, nutritional policies, and school food standards. Following this, the current research literature on school meals in the United Kingdom is discussed in terms of diet and nutrition, body weight, mental health and wellbeing, educational attainment, and behaviour. Next, this chapter presents research findings relating to school breakfast clubs and cognition, educational attainment, diet and nutrition, and behaviour. This chapter concludes by presenting policy recommendations for how school programmes can enhance the health, wellbeing, and educational attainment of children across the world.