'Pizza every day - why?': A survey to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 guidelines on secondary school food provision in the UK.

Kelly Rose,Amelia A Lake,Laura Brown,Louisa Jane Ells,Claire O’Malley

doi:10.1111/nbu.12496

Kelly Rose, Amelia A Lake + Show 3 more

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https://doi.org/10.1111/nbu.12496

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Journal: Nutrition bulletin	Publication Date: Jun 1, 2021
Citations: 4	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Teesside University, Leeds Beckett University

Abstract

The nutritional requirements of adolescence and the reported poor UK eating behaviours of young people are a significant public health concern. Schools are recognised as an effective ‘place’ setting to enable improvement to nutrition outcomes. The COVID‐19 pandemic resulted in UK school closures from March 2020. In re‐opening in September 2020, schools were required to meet guidelines to ensure the minimised impact of COVID‐19 on the population (DfE 2020). We aimed to evaluate the impact of COVID‐19 school guidelines on secondary and post‐16 (16–18 years) food provision. An online survey was posted on 8th October to 1st December 2020, targeted at young people, parents and staff of secondary/post‐16 education establishments in the UK. Two hundred and fifty‐two responses were received, of which 91% reported a change in their school food provision, 77% reported time for lunch was shortened and 44% indicated the provision was perceived as less healthy during September 2020 (post‐lockdown school return) compared with March 2020 (pre‐lockdown). Analyses demonstrated that time, limited choice and healthiness impacted negatively upon young people's school food experience. The COVID‐19 pandemic has presented a huge challenge to the delivery of healthy school food to young people. Therefore, schools require more support in following national food standards and incorporating nutrition education and behaviour change strategies within current guidelines.

Highlights

The critical and rapid cognitive, emotional and physical developmental changes experienced during adolescence require a high quality of nutrition (Alberga et al, 2012)
This research aimed to investigate the perceived impact of COVID-19 on school food provision for pupils aged 11–18 years, through an online questionnaire aimed at students, parents, school staff, exploring their experiences of school food choices before and after the first UK lockdown
This study suggests that COVID-19 has presented further challenges to improving the nutrition intake of young people in a school setting

Summary

Introduction

The critical and rapid cognitive, emotional and physical developmental changes experienced during adolescence require a high quality of nutrition (Alberga et al, 2012). Adolescent eating behaviours in the UK are a cause of significant concern (PHE, 2019). IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON SCHOOL FOOD IN THE UK. | 161 the shorter-and longer-term, with malnourished young people more likely to suffer with psychosocial problems and less likely to perform well in school (Kim et al, 2016; Leyva et al, 2020; Story et al, 2009). Young people in the UK tend to consume the lowest number of vegetable and fruit portions, and highest proportions of free sugar in comparison with other age groups (PHE, 2019). Irregular eating patterns, skipping meals and habitually consuming foods high in fat, sugar and salt (HFSS) are observed as cultural norms within adolescence (Taher et al, 2020)

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