Healthy School Meals and Educational Outcomes

Summary - by Michèle Belot, Nuffield College, University of Oxford and Jonathan James, Department of Economics, University of Essex

This paper provides field evidence on the effects of diet on educational outcomes, exploiting a campaign lead in the UK in 2004, which introduced drastic changes in the meals offered in the schools of one Borough – Greenwich - shifting from low-budget processed meals towards healthier options.

We evaluate the effect of the campaign on educational outcomes in primary schools using a difference in differences approach; comparing educational outcomes in primary schools (key stage 2 outcomes more specifically) before and after the reform, using the neighbouring Local Education Authorities as a control group.

• We find evidence that educational outcomes did improve significantly in English and Science.

• We also find that the campaign lead to a 15% fall in authorised absences – which are most likely linked to illness and health.

From the paper:

This paper exploits a unique “natural experiment” in the UK – the “Feed Me Better” campaign lead in 2004-2005 by the British Chef Jamie Oliver aimed at improving the nutritional standards at school.

Because the campaign was literally designed and implemented as a large-scale experiment, it offers a unique opportunity to assess the causal effects of diet on educational outcomes.

Drastic changes to school menus were introduced in the 80 schools of one borough – Greenwich – the idea being that these schools would then serve as examples for the rest of the country.