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The Healthy futures Partnership was formed following research conducted by Sodexo in partnership with Business in Community (BiTC), which identified nutrition education as a priority for Sodexo’s schools and universities clients.

Grounded in science, the BNF supports individuals and organisations on their journey towards adopting a healthy and sustainable diet.

The BNF and Sodexo will collaborate to deliver an approach, which aims to positively impact some 250,000 children and young people across the 550 state and independent schools where Sodexo and its subsidiary, Alliance in Partnership, deliver school meals.

This will be delivered through an ‘innovative and sustainable approach’ to menu design combined with a range of evidence-based nutrition education programmes.

Rosemary Molinari, head of health & wellbeing for schools and universities at Sodexo, said: “As a major provider of education catering services in the UK, we have a huge responsibility to educate the children and young people we cater for. 

“This generation, after all, is the first to have never known a life without unlimited access to people or information through social media, so we want to ensure they can access trusted advice to make informed decisions about their nutrition. The more we can educate students about their food choices, the more likely we will influence their performance whilst learning, their behaviours and their health and wellbeing into adulthood. 

“Ultimately, nutrition education delivered through a collaborative approach founded on shared expertise is key to our story and very much aligned with the recommendations from the National Food Strategy that include the importance of nutrition education.”  

In addition, learning resources are being created to help children and young people learn and improve their understanding of nutrition, cooking and food provenance.

Sara Stanner, science director at the British Nutrition Foundation, added: “It is important for all children and young people to receive good education on food, nutrition and health so that they are equipped with the necessary skills to make healthy choices and to eat well now and in the future. 

“We welcome the opportunity to work with Sodexo as part of the Healthy Futures Partnership to help them make a meaningful difference to the health and wellbeing of the young people they serve, as well as to support the staff involved to deliver food education in schools through training and resources.”