Meals for Schools — What Next? Multiple Cause and Multiple Response

Like the Pied Piper, Jamie Oliver ‐ followed by a growing throng of parents and teachers ‐ has forced government action and purse‐strings to raise the financing and therefore the quality of school meals in England. With £280m of new money, it looks as though at last, and at least, children will take in some nutritious food in the course of their young lives. But the reasons for and challenges presented by childhood obesity are multi‐factorial and demand a multi‐disciplinary response. This article considers the various causes of the rise in childhood obesity, and looks at past and planned initiatives aimed at tackling it. It also looks ahead to the potential for future developments that might take the baton carved by Jamie Oliver and pass it on through a range of services.