Free school meals will boost healthy choices

25th June 2009, 7:29am

SNP MSP Aileen Campbell said that the increase in free school meals provision this year and next will ensure higher take up of healthy school meals throughout children’s education.

Commenting as figures showing the number of children eating school meals were released Ms Campbell, a member of the Scottish Parliament's Education Committee said;

"We all know that developing healthy eating habits early is a lesson children learn for life which is why the SNP Government has introduced free school meals for all P1-P3 children from 2010 and is extending provision of free school meals from the coming school year.

"The free school meals pilots showed that with free school meals in P1-P3 more children took school meals across the board, not just those in the pilot and that children and parents tried new and healthier foods.

"That is only one of the benefits of offering free school meals to our youngest children – a policy brought forward by the SNP, and repeatedly opposed by opposition parties.

"Increasing free school meals to those in receipt of tax credits from this August and to all P1-P3 pupils from next year will help the health of Scotland's children and ensure that by getting into the habit of healthy school lunches early on in life, children stick with healthy meals throughout their education."

Related Articles:

• 14 Aug 2009 - Recession funding call over free school meals
• 11 Aug 2009 - More pupils now eligible for free school meals

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