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Serving Better: every meal counts in a climate emergency

Films | Published  19 October 2021

The second installment in our trilogy of brand films explores how local authorities can address the climate and nature emergencies and improve public health by promoting sustainable diets through the food they serve.

Food Service

The second installment in our trilogy of brand films explores how local authorities can address the climate and nature emergencies and improve public health by promoting sustainable diets through the food they serve.

The public sector serves an estimated one billion meals in schools every year. Reducing meat and dairy consumption will help reduce the greenhouse gas emissions’ footprint of our diet. Healthier diets with less meat and dairy and more vegetables and legumes have lower environmental impacts: if everyone in the UK adopted a diet in line with the Eatwell Guide, it is estimated dietary emissions would fall by 45%, water use by 4% and land use by 49%. Local areas are ideally placed to deliver this change. The expertise they have about their populations is a huge asset that policy makers can access when designing and planning for the most sustainable food provision within their public contracts.

Serving Better was filmed at Mandeville Primary School, where: 

  • Two meat free days and a vegetarian option are served every day for 70p per meal (food cost)
  • Dynamic procurement uses local growers and suppliers
  • Kitchen staff have been up-skilled to scratch cook on site

Louise Nichols, executive headteacher, Mandeville Primary School 

“It is possible to change your food for the better and to do it for no extra cost. If the drive is there among school leaders, governors and local authorities to make that happen, then children will eat better and be healthier, and in the future be less of a cost on our health service”

Watch Serving Better in action at Mandeville Primary School.