Children’s food in England: State of the Nation
This report examined what children in England were eating in 2019 and the impact poor diets had on health, inequality and the environment. It set out where the food system was failing children and what needed to change to make healthy, sustainable food accessible to all.
It should be normal, easy and enjoyable for all children to eat well.
Children’s food should be a political priority. But the government is yet to step up to the plate.
That’s why Soil Association’s Food for Life programme launched State of the Nation, an in-depth investigation into children’s food in England. Our thanks to English Tea Shop, who sponsored the report.
State of the Nation 2019
Published 01 Jan 2019
Report about the state of children's food in England in 2019.
Key findings
The State of the Nation survey took place in 2018 and again in 2019.
Where was progress made in 2019?
The Youth Climate Strike movement and Children's Future Food Inquiry saw children speaking out on food, health and the climate
Thousands of schools were serving healthy and sustainable school meals through Food for Life Served Here
In response to our Out to Lunch campaign, 13 restaurant chains committed to serving 2 portions of veg with every child's meal by June 2020
What still needs work?
19% of children in the UK are experiencing food insecurity
A growing number of schools are failing to comply with school food standards
Children are still drinking too many soft drinks, including artificially sweetened drinks
5 ways government can act now
Support schools to serve less and better meat
Set an ambitious target for organic in public procurement, including in schools
Ensure compliance with School Food Standards
Ensure school meals are adequately funded
Extend the Soft Drinks Industry Levy (sugar tax) to artificial sweeteners
Food for Life shows what's possible
Children’s food in England isn’t good enough, but Soil Association’s Food for Life programme shows that it is possible to make it normal, easy and enjoyable for children to eat well.
Food for Life works with thousands of schools and nurseries to put healthy and sustainable food on the plate.
Food for Life understands the importance of reconnecting children with where food comes from, making it more likely they’ll have a happy and healthy relationship with food.
The programme is about serving the best food possible on very tight budgets, but it’s also about educating students about where their food comes from, how to grow, how to cook and how to make the school lunch a social occasion.
Helpful resources
Our mission is to fix food for all, from farm to fork. We work with caterers, schools and communities within local food systems to make good, healthy and affordable food accessible to everyone. Find out how we are transforming the food system