Healthy and sustainable school foods for systemic change

At least one healthy meal per day should be guaranteed in each school in Europe: set out in the San Sebastian Declaration in 2023, this ambitious standard is considered able to improve children’s health outcomes in our continent. However, many Member States are struggling in reaching it and the current EU policies seem to be not sufficient to support them. In this situation, ICLEI, a FOODPathS partner, took the action releasing a document with recommendations for policymakers working at different level on how to improve school meals across Europe. 

Developed within the framework of the EU-funded project SchoolFood4Change, the policy brief ‘Tackling inequality through healthy and sustainable food‘ starts with the recommendation that the EU should assist Member States with implementation of the actions to achieve the standard in the San Sebastian Declaration. 

Then, the document proposes a wider adoption of the “Whole School Food Approach” (WSFA) to foster the systemic change and contribute to sustainable food systems. Elaborated by the project, the WSFA is “a holistic concept that offers pupils healthier and sustainable food choices in the long term. It’s not just about what food they are served in schools, but also about where the food comes from and how production impacts our environment and our health” (as explained in the SchoolFood4Change website). Going further from the classic educational activities in schools and involving more actors than only the teachers, this approach is based on 4 pillars: 1) practical nutrition education, 2) inclusive policies, 3) healthy and sustainable food options, and 4) the involvement of communities around schools working in partnership with them (i.e. families, producers).  

Even though, there are many initiatives and policies in many Member States, an integrative approach to ensure the right to healthy and sustainable food does not exist worldwide. Therefore, the last recommendation suggests having a contact person – a ‘reference point’ – in each Member State, with the role to observe and create interlinkages between the different sectorial policies – health, agriculture, education, environment, etc. – but that are in any case related with the food systems.  

In conclusion, improving the quality of school meals has the potential to ensure a healthier life for children and make them more aware of food and nutrition. This means schools – but not only, according to the WFSA – are fulfilling their role in educating future generations, who will also be the drivers of tomorrow’s food systems. Therefore, promoting healthy and sustainable food cultures in schools can contribute to fair, healthy, and environmentally sound food systems. 

Read the full policy brief to learn more.