Quick Facts
- Regular school meals improve food security among school-aged kids.
- It’s not just about the food. Nutritious school meals reduce stress and depression among impoverished children and food-insecure households, contributing to their overall well-being.
- It’s not just a meal; it’s a brain booster. Nutritious meals fuel the brain and support better literacy, memory, and problem-solving skills, enhancing every child’s educational journey.
- School feeding boosts enrollment and attendance and helps keep girls in school longer.
- It’s not just about the kids. School meals reduce household costs and build long-term health and economic benefits for communities, relieving financial stress and promoting economic stability.
School meals are more than just a response to hunger—they are a powerful tool for fostering long-term community development. Beyond meeting basic nutritional needs, consistent access to nutritious meals empowers children, enhancing their education, health, gender equality, and household economic stability.
Recent research from the World Food Program shows that school feeding programs significantly reduce food insecurity. Among school-aged children receiving regular school meals, food security rates increased from 73% to 82%. This stability helps children focus on learning rather than on hunger.
The mental health benefits are just as striking. A 2023 study published in Psychiatry Research, across 22 low- and middle-income countries—including Bangladesh and the Philippines—found that moderate food insecurity increased depressive symptoms by 36%, leading to an 81% increase in food insecurity among school-aged kids.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, children in the Philippines experiencing food insecurity were at 257% higher risk of anxiety and 253% higher risk of depression. Beyond nutrition, a study has shown that school meals can reduce stress by 20% and symptoms of depression by 25% among children experiencing poverty and food insecurity.
Nutritional school meals have also been shown to enhance learning and cognitive development. Though just 2% of our body weight, the human brain uses about 20% of the body’s glucose, essential for memory, attention, and problem-solving. Research shows that including milk and other nutrient-rich foods in school meals supports literacy, cognitive function, and numerical skills.
The impact extends to school performance. School meal programs have been associated with a 9% increase in enrolment, an 8% increase in attendance, and significant reductions in drop-out rates.
In Bangladesh, fortified biscuits distributed through schools improved enrolment by 14.2%, attendance by 8.2%, and school completion rates by 14%, while dropouts dropped by 7.5%. In the Philippines, over 95% of undernourished children achieved more than 85% attendance during and after school feeding programs.
With improved attendance and learning outcomes, school meals can drive social changes, particularly in terms of gender equality.
A global study suggests that if all girls in South Asia completed secondary education, child marriage could drop by 64%, from 2.9 million to just over 1 million annually. In Bangladesh, WFP reports that school meal programs—especially those combined with take-home rations—led to a 28% increase in girls’ enrolment.
The economic impact on families is also profound. For many low-income households, the value of a school meal is equivalent to about 10% of their income. Nutritious school meals significantly reduce the financial burden of feeding children at home, boost savings, and motivate parents to keep their children, especially girls, in school. Research suggests that scaling up school meals and nutrition programs could generate $2.4 trillion in global economic benefits, providing hope for a brighter future.
Tackling malnutrition is another key benefit. About 29% of children in South Asia are underweight, and millions face issues like stunting, obesity, or even early mortality. However, dietary habits formed in childhood tend to persist into adulthood. Thus, school meals offer a chance to set children on a healthier lifelong path.
Nutritional interventions through school programs are projected to avert 27 million cases of child stunting. In the Philippines, stunting among children declined from 31.9% in 2012 to 28.8%, partly due to consistent school meal initiatives. Studies also show that each case of stunting leads to an average loss of 10.8 IQ points and 1.5 years of education, reducing long-term productivity and potential.
In summary, school meals are not a temporary solution; they are a strategic investment in the future. From improving food security and educational outcomes to advancing gender equity and supporting healthier communities, the benefits of school meals extend far beyond the plate, providing policymakers with a confident reassurance of their investment.
Thrive plays a key role in this transformation. By ensuring that no child goes hungry, Thrive is laying the foundation for a future where every child can learn, grow, and contribute meaningfully to their communities.
