2018 Blog – from Scotland’s Deputy First Minister

Scotland has been a beacon of inspiration across the world for its work in encouraging our children and young people to make better food and drink choices.

As we celebrate International School Meals Day 2018, I am delighted to see so many contributions from Scotland to this year’s international cookbook competition. I am proud that Scotland’s children and young people have taken the time to showcase their favourite recipes alongside those from schools across the World. Congratulations are due to all those who have had their recipes published!

We want to give our children the best possible start in life, making Scotland the best place in the World to grow up. Curriculum for Excellence supports this, including a set of food and health experiences and outcomes that pupils should have during the course of their day‑to‑day learning about food choices and the relationship to their health and wellbeing.

School catering staff have worked tirelessly to ensure the nutritious and healthy school food they provide exemplifies the messages that prioritise health promotion in their school. Ensuring our children and young people are suitably nourished contributes to their learning process, helping every pupil work towards leaving school equipped with the skills, knowledge and experience they need to make better health choices and live longer, healthier lives.

School food will shortly return to centre stage as the Scottish Government launches a public consultation on how we can further strengthen our internationally admired School Food Regulations. It is crucial children and young people have the opportunity to influence the choices they have in the school food they consume. It is all the more important that we celebrate their contribution during the Year of Young People. We all have a part to play in this period of discussion, and none more so than our outstanding children and young people.

I, too, look forward to following the success of International School Meals Day 2018 at www.internationalschoolmealsday.com, @IntSchoolMeals and #ISMD2018. #YOYP2018