More than 20 years ago, when I started the campaign and TV series School Dinners, I couldn’t believe that we had standards for dog food but no standards for the food we fed our children at school. I have never, and will never, stop banging that drum – even after this week’s momentous announcement on school food standards in England. Because it is so important we remember where we started from.

Children in the state sector are at school for 190 days a year. And if they’re eating breakfast and lunch there, the majority of what they consume each day is in the hands of their school. When we know that children are consuming less than half the recommended fruit and vegetables, but twice the recommended sugar, school food is a massive opportunity to directly improve diets at scale.

But eating good food around a shared table isn’t just important for children’s health. It’s a core part of a child’s social connection and sense of belonging. Well-fed kids are happier, have more energy and fewer days off school due to sickness, and their learning and behaviour improve, too.

It’s no surprise that 80% of teachers agree that unhealthy food at lunch and breaktime can lead to disruptive behaviour, and 85% say diet affects pupils’ ability to concentrate.

But we didn’t need scientific evidence to tell us that – who doesn’t feel and perform better when their bellies are........

© The Guardian