Good health is important for everyone. The Government wants to secure, maintain and improve children’s and young people’s health. One of the ways it is doing that is by setting food in schools standards for students in schools.

A varied and balanced diet is an important way of protecting health, and promoting proper growth and development. In the short term it can help children and young people to improve their concentration and fulfil their potential both inside and outside school. It helps to minimise some health risks such as anaemia and dental decay. A good diet in childhood can also help to prevent ill health later in life. Unhealthy diets, which include too many fatty foods, too much salt, and not enough vegetables and fruit, are linked to the risk of heart disease, stroke and some cancers.