World Food Day – Invest in our Children’s Healthy Future
By BSLM
2nd Oct, 2024
Food insecurity is a worsening issue 1. In 2024, 1 in 5 families are struggling to provide their children with enough safe and nutritious food to support normal growth and development for an active health life. The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) 2 report, from March 2023, reported that families had to earn less than £7,400, after tax to qualify for a free school lunch. This means that 30% of families on Universal Credit are not qualifying for the support.
The impact on children’s health and ability to learn is severe, low iron levels in a child’s diet reduces concentration and impacts on a child’s sleep, this is just one example of the impact of a poor nutritional intake. The stress from food insecurity often leads to anxiety and emotional difficulties. Dr Camilla Kingdon from Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health President states: “When I talk to parents, they already know what food will provide their children with the best nutrition – but so many consistently report how expensive it is to buy fruit and veg. Parents are often left with no option other than to buy cheaper highly processed food that is high in both salt and sugar.”
Poor dietary intake leads to malnourished overweight people who will use more of the NHS resources to manage comorbidities of overweight 3
In the UK, only 1 in 10 children and 1 in 4 adults meet their minimum 5 portions of fruit and vegetables per day 4 The rising cost of living has made the situation worse. The poorest families have reduced their fruit and veg purchases by 44% compared to 11% reduction in those feeling more food secure 5
The luxury of food choice should not be reserved for a few. Building a healthy nation should be a priority. Providing free school lunches to all children in primary school should be an obvious choice. While Scotland and London are testing the idea, a nationwide commitment is required to implement this policy and invest in children’s healthy future.
Additionally, policies should address the root causes of food insecurity by making healthy foods more affordable and accessible. This could involve regulating the aggressive marketing of unhealthy foods and increasing subsidies for fruit and vegetables to ensure that even the poorest families can meet their dietary needs. By taking these steps, we can prioritize children’s health, mitigate the long-term impacts of poor nutrition, and create a healthier future for the next generation.
On this World Food Day, the BSLM urges the policy makers in charge to prioritise the health of children. Providing free school lunches and supporting families in their weekly food shop, it is an investment in our nation’s future.
References
1. foodfoundation.org Food Insecurity Tracking | Food Foundation
3. Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 (GBD 2021) Data Resources | GHDx (healthdata.org)
4. Are we achieving 5-a-day? – British Dietetic Association (BDA)