title: Healthy school meals and educational outcomes.
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 authorized absences - which are most likely linked to illness and health - fell by 14%.
authors: Nuffield College, University of Oxford, United Kingdom.
authors: Michèle
authors: M
authors: Belot
authors: Jonathan
authors: J
authors: James
mesh_terms: D000041:Absenteeism; D002648:Child; D004032:Diet / Q000592:standards*; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005522:Food Services / Q000592:standards*; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012574:Schools; D006113:United Kingdom