Food for Life work with over 700 schools and nurseries to make healthy and sustainable food the norm

Whether it’s working with the school caterer to ensure at least 75% of the menu is freshly prepared, or working with pupils to grow fruit and veg in the school garden, over 700 schools and nurseries in the UK are working towards a more healthy and sustainable future with Food for Life.

We also work directly with caterers through the Food for Life Served Here Award, supporting caterers to provide meals which are healthy and sustainable, made with fresh ingredients with high welfare and low food miles. In the past year, 3,331 schools and nurseries have served 847,801 Food for Life Served Here accredited meals.  

Our pioneering ‘whole setting approach’ means that the positive impact of a good food culture doesn’t stop at the school gates – whole communities are positively impacted. 

Settings who are a part of the Food for Life programme are also a part of Food for Life’s UK-wide journey towards a good food culture, not only through the programme’s presence in schools and nurseries but through community-wide work and campaigning for Universal Free School Meals.

At a time when the cost-of-living crisis is pricing many families out of healthy and sustainable food, Food for Life’s mission is not only to ensure that all children can access a healthy and sustainable meal during the school day, but for children to understand where their food comes from and for entire communities to experience the benefits of a good food culture.

Across the year there have been plenty of examples of this. In Walsall, Radleys Primary School decided to use a local business for their burgers and sausages so they knew exactly what was in them, working with a local butcher to create a bespoke recipe free of additives, as set out in the Food for Life criteria. Now, other schools in the area use the same products. In Leicestershire, Sir John Moore Primary School were the first school to work with David McDowell, The Bee Farmer, gaining experience in beekeeping and an understanding of pollinators. Now with an onsite beehive, the school use harvested honey in school recipes and sell jars to parents and the community – now many other local schools enjoy having beehives on site.

Chloe Smee, Senior Programme Manager at Food for Life says:

“In a challenging environment of smaller budgets and a cost-of-living crisis, it’s inspiring to see a UK-wide commitment to healthy and sustainable food. We wanted to take some time to celebrate all that’s being done in spite of these challenges and look towards a bright future for the good food movement. So much excellent work is being done in schools and nurseries up and down the country which adds up to a healthier food culture for our children.”

Do you want to be part of Food for Life’s good food movement?

Schools and authorities who are interested in making good food the norm can find out more about enrolling as a Food for Life school or setting by visiting our website or contacting Food for Life on ffl@foodforlife.org to discuss further.

If you’re a parent or community member who would like to see the many benefits of Food for Life in your area, write to your local MP or school board to express your interest in the programme.