School food: top marks - A summary report on food in schools research in Northern Ireland

This report highlights the barriers that schools in Northern Ireland have experienced in implementing
nutritional standards. In particular, it identifies the potential adverse impact that external sources
of food may have on pupils’ healthy eating practices within the school setting. It also illustrates
how the accessibility of food and drinks contradicting the standards, within the school, may limit
the success of the standards. This report further emphasises how practical constraints within the
school meals system, such as queues, can negatively influence pupils’ uptake of healthy foods.

The report outlines a number of recommendations to aid the implementation of the
School food: top marks programme.