Rethinking School Lunches in Australia: Towards Healthier Nutritious Options for Students

In Australia, the typical school morning routine for parents involves hurriedly preparing sandwiches, squeezing leftovers into containers, and grabbing snacks and fruit for their children. This makeshift process, often driven by time pressures, results in many children bringing lunchboxes filled with foods that may not meet their nutritional needs.

Contrasting with practices in countries like Finland, Sweden, Scotland, Wales, Brazil, and India—where free, nutritious school meals are provided daily—Australia remains one of the few high-income nations not to implement a universal school meal program. This absence is notable especially as rising food insecurity and the cost-of-living crisis make access to healthy food more challenging for Australian families.

Research indicates that children consume about one-third of their daily food intake at school, emphasizing the importance of school-based nutrition. Poor diet during childhood is linked to higher obesity rates and can negatively impact physical growth, cognitive development, and mental health. International evidence supports that universal school meal programs—offering healthy, nutritious meals to all students—can significantly improve health outcomes and academic performance.

In Australia, most children either bring a packed lunch or buy food from school canteens. Unfortunately, more than 80% of primary school lunches lack nutritional quality, with half of the food consumed at school classified as junk food and only a small fraction of children eating enough vegetables. Data from 2011–2012 and subsequent surveys reveal minimal improvements in children's diet quality. The reliance on pre-packaged, convenience foods due to parental time constraints and food insecurity affects dietary choices.

Food insecurity affects approximately 58% of Australian households with children, with even higher rates among single-parent families. Additionally, hot weather poses food safety challenges, making it difficult to keep fresh food cool inside schoolbags.

Historically, Australia has experimented with school food programs, including the mid-20th-century school milk program and wartime initiatives like the Oslo lunch—comprising cheese, salads, milk, and fruit. Presently, a patchwork of not-for-profit initiatives provides breakfast, lunch, and school garden programs. Tasmania, for example, operates pilot schemes offering hot lunches, showing benefits such as healthier eating habits, calmer classrooms, improved social bonds, and reduced food waste.

The 2023 parliamentary inquiry recommends that the federal government collaborate with states and territories to explore the feasibility of instituting a nationwide school meals program. Implementing such a program would necessitate cooperation between government, private sectors, and schools, potentially building on existing canteen, garden, and food relief initiatives. International models demonstrate different funding and delivery mechanisms—fully government-funded schemes, caregiver subsidies, or cost-sharing arrangements—which could be adapted to the Australian context.

Costs per child per day for school meals are estimated at around A$10, although pilot programs have reported lower costs by involving volunteers. Delivery methods may vary, including onsite preparation, centrally prepared meals delivered to schools, or partnerships with charitable organizations.

Ultimately, establishing comprehensive school meal programs could alleviate parental stress and ensure all students receive nutritious food essential for healthy growth, learning, and development.