HEALTHY SCHOOL MEALS AND EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES

Michèle Belot and Jonathan James

No 56207, Working Papers from American Association of Wine Economists

Abstract: 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.

Keywords: Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety; Health Economics and Policy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 42
Date: 2009-12
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-edu, nep-hea, nep-lab and nep-ure
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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https://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/56207/files/AAWE_WP53.pdf (application/pdf)

Related works:
Journal Article: Healthy school meals and educational outcomes (2011)
Working Paper: Healthy school meals and educational outcomes (2009)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ags:aawewp:56207

DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.56207

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