Impacts of Global School Feeding Programmes on Children’s Health and Wellbeing Outcomes: A Scoping Review

Abstract

Background School feeding programmes (SFP) are one of the world’s most extensive interventions to alleviate child poverty, food insecurity and malnutrition. Schools are ideal settings to promote healthy eating habits early in life since children have access to at least one main meal per day at school. However, there is a lack of clear evidence for the effectiveness of school feeding programmes on child health outcomes. Additionally, there is considerable debate on whether feeding programmes should be universal or targeted with countries taking different approaches. This review will therefore explore global research on school feeding programmes and consider different health outcomes through targeted or universal policies.