A new survey commissioned by the UK food advocacy organization ProVeg UK and conducted by YouGov shows that a growing number of parents support more plant-based meal options in schools, reflecting rising concern for children's health, food education, and sustainability.
The survey of parents with children aged 3 to 18 found that 46.7% support schools offering more plant-based meals, while 85% believe schools should strengthen healthy eating education to help children build good eating habits. In addition, 37% of parents think adding more plant-based foods would make school meals healthier, with support even higher among parents of younger children.
Meanwhile, ProVeg UK's School Plates programme has reached a major milestone. Since its launch in 2018, it has helped more than 12,000 schools improve their menus, switching a cumulative total of over 50 million meals to plant-based or meat-free options.
According to ProVeg, school meals do more than provide nutrition; they are also an important setting for shaping the next generation's eating habits. By adding plant-based options, improving chef training, and redesigning menus, schools can promote children's health while supporting the development of a low-carbon, sustainable food system.