No child should ever go hungry in school. It is an argument that has brought us together with teachers and politicians to support the Free School Meals for all Campaign.
We’ve joined forces to take the message to Parliament, because the evidence is crystal clear: free school meals help get children into the habit of healthy eating. There are gains for oral and general health, and now is the time for government to act.
Prevention is key
Diet-related diseases are now costing the NHS billions every year - from malnutrition to diabetes - bad food fuels conditions that last a lifetime.
We see it every day in our practices. We know that the number one reason for hospital admissions in kids under 10 isn’t broken bones or tonsillectomies - it’s tooth decay.
Every year tens of thousands of young children face getting multiple teeth removed. And the sad fact is that this is almost all entirely preventable. It’s a condition that comes at a cost, in pain, sleepless nights, and a multimillion-pound bill to our NHS.
Decay and deprivation go hand in hand, and with the cost-of-living crisis, we are seeing inequalities widen. But this isn’t about parents and children making bad choices.
For a household in the bottom 10% of household income it would take nearly ¾ of their disposable income to follow healthy eating guidance.
Prevention really is key. It’s not just better than cure, it is cheaper too.
A twin-track approach
Our children are born into a toxic food environment, with parents of toddlers marketed foods more sugary than coke.
The average five-year-old consumes the equivalent of their body weight in sugar in the course of a year. It’s why we also call for tighter controls on the labelling and marketing of sugary food and drinks. The simple fact is we need to change Britain’s food culture.
We are fighting to end the access crisis on the high street. We’ve heard so many heartbreaking stories of parents unable to get the care their children desperately need. And the new government needs to make good on its promise to fix the broken NHS dental contract. But prevention isn’t an either/or.
Yes, we need to rebuild dental services, but free school meals is one of many complimentary policies, and one that’s already a reality in Greater London.
Bringing children together
I received free school meals. My dad was a toolmaker, my mum a cleaner. They did everything they could for the family, but things were always tight.
For me it meant being able to focus on my studies, not where the next meal was coming from. And I simply wouldn’t be where I am today without that support.
Some say let’s just focus on those who need it most, on the kids in my situation. However, universality removes the stigma.
Dentists can see that when you target support, what you get are grey areas. While some adults are exempt from NHS charges, you need an instruction manual to work out whether you qualify. And many of those who don’t think twice about seeking care – even when they are in pain.
During a cost-of-living crisis many more parents in the squeezed middle are making choices, for themselves and their kids.
Food – and good food – should be a vital way to bring children together, regardless of their parents incomes. And no child in this country should be denied the chance to be ambitious for want of food.
Free school meals for all is simple and achievable. It’s a policy that will make a dramatic difference to the health and wellbeing of generations to come.
Together, we can make it happen.