A recent survey by ProVeg UK and YouGov found that 46.7% of UK parents support increasing the availability of plant-based meals in schools, while 85% support greater education around healthy food choices and nutrition.
The survey, which included parents of children aged 3 to 18, also found that 37% believe serving more plant-based foods would make school meals healthier. Support was particularly strong among parents of younger children.
The findings come as ProVeg UK’s School Plates program celebrates a major milestone: helping schools switch more than 50 million meals to plant-based or meat-free options across 12,000 schools since its launch. The initiative aims to make school food healthier and more sustainable while expanding plant-based choices for students.
The survey reflects growing public support for integrating plant-based options into school food systems. Health and environmental experts have also suggested that increasing plant-based meals in schools and hospitals could reduce healthcare costs and help lower the environmental impact of food production.