Why School Food
Lunchbox food costs have risen 20% in 6 years, $1792/y of the average family food budget. – Manson et al., 2024
Over 80% of school lunches are poor quality. – Manson et al., 2021
“1 in 5 Aussie kids are living in poverty. That sounds like a bloody good reason to be feeding kids at school”. – Esdaile et al., 2025
“School canteens nationwide are closing. This places a greater burden on families preparing meals from home and prevents reliable access to affordable and nourishing – FOCIS, 2025
- Many Australian children are not adequately nourished during the school day, with school‑hour food intake often dominated by nutritionally poor options that can undermine health, growth, and learning.
- School‑provided meal programs represent a practical, evidence‑informed policy solution with the potential to reduce childhood hunger, improve equity, and align education and health priorities.
- Children and families support school food programs when they are designed with dignity, choice, and quality, providing clear guidance for acceptable and sustainable policy implementation.
- Improving school food and lunchtime environments can positively influence learning‑related behaviour, reinforcing school food as an investment in both educational and health outcomes.