Effects of a free breakfast in upper secondary schools in Vestland County

Use of a free school breakfast improves diet quality during school hours for pupils in lower SES groups. Measures to enhance participation is needed, but will increase the cost for municipalities.

Background. There is a clear social gradient in dietary habits that becomes evident already during the childhood and adolescent years. As a measure to reduce social inequalities and ensure that all pupils receive a nutritious start to the day, Vestland County Municipality has introduced free school breakfasts in upper secondary schools. International studies have shown positive effects of such initiatives, including improved dietary habits, reduced social inequality, and increased breakfast consumption among pupils. However, it remains uncertain to what extent these findings can be generalized to Norwegian conditions.

Method. In collaboration with the Norwegian Institute of Public Health and Vestland County Municipality, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences have assessed different aspects surrounding the free school breakfast initiative in Vestland county. A survey was distributed to all upper secondary schools in Vestland in 2023, and data from 39 schools and 6,536 students were included. Measures of socioeconomic status (SES; parental education, Family Affluence Scale, vocational-/general academic studies) and dietary habits during school hours were examined in relation to the utilization of the breakfast program. Also, organization of the breakfast program and pupil satisfaction was considered.

Results. The findings showed that the time of breakfast served was crucial for participation, with a lower attendance rate when breakfast was served before the school started. Satisfaction was generally high among the pupils who participated in the programs, independent of time and content of the meal. While use of the program was not significantly different between pupils from different socioeconomic backgrounds, it was positively associated with diet quality in pupils with low and medium SES.

Conclusion. The findings suggest that a free school breakfast can improve diet quality during school hours in pupils with low and medium SES, but not high SES. The effectiveness of this initiative depends on level of participation, underscoring the importance of implementing measures to enhance participation despite a strained financial situation in municipalities.