The British Nutrition Foundation welcomes the Government’s announcement to remove high sugar foods and deep fried items from school menus as part of the planned update to School Food Standards. These proposals represent an important step towards improving the nutritional quality of food provided in schools and addressing long standing concerns around childhood obesity, dental health and diet quality.
However, changes to what is served in schools must be accompanied by high-quality food and nutrition education to help children develop the knowledge, skills and confidence to plan, choose, cook and eat in a healthier and more sustainable way.. Children and young people need opportunities not only to eat healthier food, but also to understand where food comes from, how to prepare it, and how to make informed choices in an increasingly challenging and complex food environment that promotes and favours foods with an unhealthy nutritional profile.
The British Nutrition Foundation strongly advocates for a whole school approach to food, where learning in the classroom is reinforced by the food culture across the school day. The importance of a whole school approach to food was recognised in the updated Ofsted Common Inspection Framework, published in November 2025 which highlighted the importance of creating a culture and ethos of healthy eating in schools. Our Education team works with teachers, school leaders and partners across the UK to support this approach through training, guidance and curriculum linked resources. Find out more about our education work.
At the heart of this work is our flagship education programme, Food – a fact of life. This comprehensive, evidence based programme supports children and young people aged 3–16 years to develop food knowledge, practical cooking skills and confidence around healthy eating, while complementing school food provision and national dietary guidance.
We also recognise that snacks play a significant role in children’s overall diets. In September 2025, we piloted Snack-tember, a month long initiative designed to help children and young people explore, make and choose healthier, more sustainable snacks. Building on the evaluation and learning from the 2025 pilot, we are now developing Snack-tember 2026, which will continue to support schools, parents, carers and caterers with practical, accessible resources.
Together, improvements to school food standards and strengthened food and nutrition education provide a powerful opportunity to support children’s health, learning and long term wellbeing.
About the British Nutrition Foundation
Connecting people, food and science for better nutrition and healthier lives
The British Nutrition Foundation is a charity that strives to prevent diet-related illness and promote health and wellbeing through evidence-based nutrition science. It provides a bridge between nutrition science, government, industry, healthcare, education and people, and is a conduit to a healthier, more sustainable food environment for all.
The British Nutrition Foundation’s team is made up of highly qualified and experienced nutrition scientists and educators who work to disseminate evidence-based peer reviewed research findings which: support industry strategy and healthy, sustainable product innovation; inform government policy and regulations; and help people build their knowledge, skills and confidence in making positive, food and lifestyle choices to help prevent illness and disease and promote health and wellbeing.
We safeguard our independence through robust governance, with an independent Board supported by an Advisory Committee and a Scientific Committee, both of which draw upon a broad range of experts from academia, government, industry, and public life. Our governance is weighted towards the scientific community, universities, and research institutes, and those from education, finance, media, communications, and HR backgrounds.
Funding for the British Nutrition Foundation is from membership subscriptions; donations; project grants from food producers and manufacturers, retailers and food service companies; conferences; publications, training, trusts, and foundations. The British Nutrition Foundation is not a lobbying organisation, nor does it endorse any products or engage in food advertising campaigns.
More details about the British Nutrition Foundation’s work, funding and governance can be found here.
Share this page