Children at two Jersey primary schools will get healthy meals from September in a £200,000 government-funded pilot scheme.
Pupils at Janvrin and Samares will be given a main meal, dessert and drink provided by the charity Caring Cooks.
Each lunch will cost £2.50, and some pupils will be eligible to get the food for free.
Director of Public Health Martin Knight thinks it will bring many benefits;
"Providing good nutrition throughout the school day is really important for children, not only in the short-term - being able to support behaviour and readiness to learn - but we also know that it is really protective in the future from risks of disease."
He says early intervention in a children's dietary habits will have a significant impact on their physical and mental well-being, reduce their risk of becoming obese or developing type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer.
Education Minister Senator Tracey Vallois is backing the trial.
"It is important that children have daily access to healthy nutritious food while at school; there is growing evidence that a good diet and nutrition improves student performance."
If the two year long trial is a success, the government will consider rolling school meals out to all primaries.
18-year-olds to have access to Jersey social housing
CI ferry operators to work together to improve inter-islands travel
'Show up and play' football games to tackle festive loneliness
New website helps children and families navigate the digital world
More time in Jersey for French day-trippers
Rapist jailed more than two decades after his crime
Jersey Airport to see 20,000 passengers in the run up to Christmas
Both winning CI Christmas Lottery Tickets sold in Jersey
Comments
Add a comment