An Apple a Day: The Impact of Healthier School Meals on Children in Jordan

Simone Lombardini, Florence Kondylis, Benedetta Lerva, Jonas Heirman, Roshni Khincha and Hannah Irmela Uckat

No 11208, Policy Research Working Paper Series from The World Bank

Abstract: Poor nutritional choices and unhealthy behaviors are considered responsible for the rise in childhood overweight and obesity and may reinforce each other, creating a vicious cycle. This paper studies a primary school intervention designed to break the cycle early in life by replacing date bars with calorie-equivalent meals lower in sugar and fat. Leveraging the randomized pilot of a menu change in Jordan’s national school feeding program, the study shows that children consuming the alternative meals spend 8 percent less money to buy processed snacks, are more physically active (0.1 standard deviation), and go to school one extra day per year.

Date: 2025-09-05
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