International School Meals Day 2019

This International School Meals Day, it’s all about the people behind the meal: from those who grow it, to those who cook it. We believe that good food is not just good for health and good for the environment – it’s good for local business too.

That means it’s grown by local producers, prepared by skilled and knowledgeable people, and supports a thriving local economy.

The Food for Life Scotland programme is working with local authorities to support Scottish growers and producers by putting more Scottish food on school dinner plates up and down the country. And, because at least 75% of a Food for Life Served Here menu is prepared freshly from scratch, the scheme is helping to support frontline skills for catering staff in school kitchens across Scotland.

The results are clear: research has shown that every £1 invested by a Food for Life certified local authority offers a £4.41 social return on investment into the local economy.

As Scotland builds its ambition to be a Good Food Nation, it’s crucial that our world-leading produce finds its way into public sector kitchens, as well as onto restaurant plates and export manifests. With an approach that supports economic growth by creating demand for Scottish produce and empowering the people who cook with it, the Food for Life programme is the perfect place to start.