A Snapshot of School Meals: What Primary School Learners choose, eat, and leave behind — Insights from the RISE Study

Are you looking to strengthen your primary school’s approach to food, nutrition, and learner well-being, and better understand what shapes children’s choices at lunchtime?

Join us for a free webinar exploring what primary school children really choose, eat, and leave behind at lunchtime — and what this means for nutrition, school meal uptake, and Universal Primary Free School Meal (UPFSM) policy. Drawing on new insights from the RISE Study, we’ll share practical, evidence-based ways primary schools can improve dining environments, reduce waste, and support children’s well-being. Perfect for educators, policymakers, and anyone involved in primary school food.

As part of RISE - a three-year UK ‑ wide study examining how food is provided, chosen, and eaten in primary schools, researchers worked closely with primary schools in two local authorities across Wales to:

• Photograph and document meals before and after eating.

• Measure food waste.

• Review school menus.

• Speak with children, families, and school staff.

This webinar shares clear insights and practical tips to help schools improve dining spaces, increase meal uptake, cut waste, and support learner well-being.

By exploring the many influences on children’s eating behaviours, from menu appeal and dining hall routines to family preferences and time pressures, this research highlights how schools can ensure that universal school meal policies work effectively for all primary school learners.

It also offers clear, actionable insights that schools can apply immediately to support healthier eating and more positive lunchtime experiences.

What Our Webinar Will Cover

• How lunchtime eating supports healthy nutrition, including differences between school meals and packed lunches.

• Key barriers that prevent children from taking up free school meals, and what helps them enjoy them.

• Practical changes to school food, menus, and dining environments.

• How Universal Primary Free School Meals policies influence children and families, including eating habits at home and household finances.

Who Should Attend: Suitable for Primary schools (and interested Secondary school) teachers and wider staff; School Governors; WNHWPS Co-ordinators; Local Authority and Education Directorate staff, Education and Health practitioners; Policymakers; Researchers, and Third sector organisations.  

Presented by:  

Dr Rochelle Embling, Senior Research and Evaluation Officer, Health Improvement Division, Public Health Wales.

For any further information about RISE email risestudy@cardiff.ac.uk.

If you have any questions regarding this webinar, please email SHRN Engagement Manager, Charlotte Wooders.   

We look forward to welcoming you and sharing practical insights you can put into practice in your school or organisation straight away.