School Feeding Concepts

Organized feeding programmes can contribute to the health and well-being of students All such programme must be planned carefully, taking into account the nutritional needs of the group to be fed, available food supplies, facilities for food preparation and distribution, and available funds. In most instances provision must be made for training staff to operate large-scale feeding proframmes. Nutrition education should be an important aspect of all feeding programme, and should provide simple clear information on food and nutrition in relation to health. The early participation of parents and the local community in the programme, particularly through the production of local low-cost foods of high nutritional value will help to insure continuity after external aid has ceased. Programmes should be evaluated in order to measure the benefits obtained in relation to the cost of the operation. Anthropometric data, absenteeism and scholastic achievement may serve as indicators in school feeding programmes.