Earth First

Healthier, Tastier and Greener School Lunches: Here’s How European countries are taking action

With rising rates of childhood obesity, and diabetes and growing concerns over wellness and nutrition, European schools are under pressure to set children on healthier paths. Many countries are responding with national guidelines and innovative local programs, rethinking what school meals should be.

Between 2020 and 2035, the number of boys living with obesity is projected to increase by 61%, while for girls, the increase is expected to be 57%, according to the World Obesity Atlas. With children and teenagers spending at least half their day in school, these institutions have a significant role in shaping their eating habits. However, balancing nutritious meals—now required in many European countries—with students’ preferences remains a challenge. If school meals are meant to educate and empower young minds, how well are policymakers and schools achieving this goal?

Why are School Food Policies Important?

School food policies have become critical tools in tackling today’s most pressing health crises: the surge in childhood obesity and the rise of diet-related diseases. As these issues escalate, the meals served in schools offer a prime opportunity to intervene. By setting rigorous standards for school meals, governments aim to make healthy food a norm, not an exception, helping children grow up with balanced diets that support their mental and physical development. The EU has been a leader in this effort, with several countries pioneering programs that prioritise both nutrition and sustainability, exemplified by initiatives like SchoolFood4Change, which brings together policymakers, NGOs, and educators to share resources and strategies.

In 2022, the World Health Organisation reported that 1 in 3 children in the European Region were living with overweight or obesity. The numbers are still increasing in many EU countries.

School Food Policies in Europe

Already in 2014, a study by the Joint Research Centre revealed that all EU countries, plus Norway and Switzerland, had school food regulations or guidelines in place.¹ Among these, Finland’s program stood out: every year, it provided free school meals to around 900,000 students aged 6 to 16.² In an article for Tribune, Finland’s former minister of education, Jussi Saramo, captured the value placed on this initiative, stating:

“The school meal is seen as an essential part of a child’s well-being and growth, and a balanced school meal is more than just nutrition: it sustains the ability to study and increases students’ awareness and knowledge of food and nutrition.”

Each EU country approached school food policies uniquely. Of the 34 policies reviewed in the JRC study, 18 were mandatory, while the rest offered voluntary guidelines. The JRC study found that countries established these policies for three main reasons:

To improve child nutrition (97 per cent of all policies)
To teach healthy diet and lifestyle habits (94 per cent of all policies)
To reduce or prevent childhood obesity (88 per cent of all policies)

School Meals Can Teach Children about Nutrition and Culture

School meals are becoming more than just nourishment; they’re powerful tools for teaching children about food, nutrition, and even cultural heritage. Across Europe, schools recognise that the cafeteria can be a classroom in its own right. Programmes like SchoolFood4Change, launched in 2022, bring nutritious and sustainable meals to schools across 12 countries. With the participation of over 3,000 schools, this initiative provides an opportunity for students to explore the importance of healthy food choices, not just for their personal health but also for the environment.³

In many countries, school meals also reflect cultural values. For example, in France, school lunches are designed to instil an appreciation for traditional French cuisine. The multi-course meals, which include appetisers, main courses, a cheese course, and dessert, emphasise balanced nutrition while celebrating French culinary heritage. Meanwhile, in the Netherlands, ‘smaaklessen’ (taste lessons) introduce children to various flavours and foods. Through hands-on lessons in cooking and sensory exploration, children learn to appreciate a wide array of tastes, which can help counter the trend of processed, standardised foods.⁴^,⁵

According to Maddie Sinclair, former Research Assistant at the University of York’s Fix Our Food Programme, incorporating ethnically diverse food in schools is important. She tells Food Unfolded, “The lack of cultural representation might lead to children leaning more towards snacking, or choosing more processed foods that they are familiar with, rather than an unfamiliar yet healthier or more sustainable option.”

Moreover, some countries view school meals as opportunities for children to develop their social intelligence and learn more about themselves. In Malta, school food guidelines recommend incorporating food-themed murals, new tables and chairs and background music.¹

FoodEducators is an EIT Food programme that provides teachers with fun, creative and interesting activities to engage young people, mainly schoolchildren. The easily accessible, science-based food education materials enhance students' learning so they can become better informed, conscious consumers of the future. The programme is multi-language and is represented by national contact points in 15 European countries, reaching thousands of teachers and children (6-18) with topics of food & sustainability, food & health, food science & food system and agrifood jobs & careers. Find out more about FoodEducators here.

School meals as a tool to reduce health and food inequalities

For many children, school meals may be their only source of nutritious food, making school food policies critical for addressing health and food inequalities. In countries like Finland, Estonia, and Sweden, free school meal programs have been in place for decades, ensuring that every child, regardless of background, has access to a nutritious meal during the school day. These programs highlight the role of school food in promoting equality and reducing the health disparities that often arise from socioeconomic differences. By making school meals universally available, these countries have set a benchmark for how nutrition can support educational outcomes and social equality.⁷^,⁸^,⁹

In other EU nations, free or subsidised school meal programs are available for lower-income families, though often only for younger children or specific populations. For instance, during Greece’s economic crisis in 2012, the government introduced free meals in schools located in disadvantaged areas. These targeted programs helped relieve financial stress on struggling families while ensuring children received adequate nutrition. However, without universal coverage, such interventions risk leaving out children from slightly higher-income families who may still struggle to afford nutritious food.⁸

In the UK, strict eligibility thresholds for free school meals have stirred debate. Currently, children are eligible if their household income does not exceed £7,400, excluding benefits.¹³ By contrast, Northern Ireland has a higher income cap, extending eligibility to households earning up to £14,000. Despite these programs, over 800,000 children in the UK live in food poverty without access to free school meals. For activists like Christina Adane, this disparity highlights a major gap: “The fact that we are one of the richest economies in the world and young people don’t have access to at least one nutritious meal a day is shocking.”⁸^,¹⁰

January 2023. School children gathered in London for a rally, staged by non-profit organisation Bite Back 2030, calling on the government to provide free school meals to all children who live in poverty. Their petition was signed by over 250,000 people. Photo via Getty.

School meals as an intervention to reduce child obesity

Childhood obesity is one of Europe’s most pressing health issues, with nearly one in eight children aged 7-8 classified as obese.¹¹ The EU has responded to this growing crisis with various initiatives, beginning with a 2007 white paper on nutrition and followed by the 2014 Action Plan on Childhood Obesity. This six-year plan outlined strategies across eight focus areas, including promoting healthier environments in schools and limiting food marketing to children. By targeting school environments, the EU hopes to make healthier food options more accessible and appealing to children, establishing healthier habits that will carry into adulthood.⁸

One of the most effective areas of the Action Plan has been ‘promoting healthier environments in schools,’ with 40% of participating countries reporting it as their most successful measure against childhood obesity. These efforts have led to changes in school cafeterias, where healthier options are given priority, and vending machines offering processed snacks and sugary drinks are often restricted or removed. The idea is simple: make the healthy choice the easy choice. By reshaping food environments in schools, these policies aim to reduce the risk of obesity by creating spaces where children are naturally drawn to nutritious options.¹²

In addition to changing the physical environment, some countries have implemented marketing restrictions to protect children from unhealthy food advertising. The EU’s Audio-visual Media Services Directive, launched in 2010, set guidelines to limit the marketing of high-fat, high-sugar, and high-salt foods to young audiences. In the UK, advertisers are restricted from publishing material that is ‘unsafe for children’ after 9 pm. Recently, UK Health Minister Andrew Gwynne stated that junk food adverts will be added to the list of prohibited pre-watershed content.¹³ The move is part of the countries’ efforts to improve public health and reduce pressure on the National Health Service (NHS).

At the same time, EU policymakers recognize that childhood obesity cannot be addressed solely through dietary change and requires reshaping the broader food culture in which children grow up.¹^,⁵

The Future of School Meals

EU countries agree on the transformative potential of school food policies to address key issues: childhood nutrition, social inequality, and chronic disease prevention. While several initiatives show promise, challenges remain—such as funding, regional variation, and ensuring effectiveness.

Schools serve as microcosms of society, shaping not only students' academic growth but also their health and values. By fostering lifelong healthy habits and respect for diverse, sustainable foods, school meal programs contribute to broader public health and sustainability goals. Though implementing these policies is no easy feat, robust school food standards are essential for healthier generations and a more resilient planet.