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29/07/2015
Call For All Children Between Four And Seven To Receive Free School Meals
NI doctors are calling for all children between the ages of four and seven to receive free school meals.
The British Medical Association (BMA) is calling for the scheme to be extended to all children.
Dr Paul Darragh, a member of the BMA’s Board of Science, said: "It is critical that healthy eating patterns are established when people are young. Evidence suggests that universal provision of free school meals is beneficial towards this."
Currently only children whose parents receive certain benefits receive free school meals.
Dr Darragh continued: "Similarly, while people most people know you should eat five portions of fruit and vegetables every day, few actually do it.
"Young children in England already benefit from a daily fruit and veg scheme, getting a piece of fresh fruit or a portion of vegetables every day, and we would like to see a similar scheme introduced here, ideally with all primary school children benefitting from it."
(CD/MH)
The British Medical Association (BMA) is calling for the scheme to be extended to all children.
Dr Paul Darragh, a member of the BMA’s Board of Science, said: "It is critical that healthy eating patterns are established when people are young. Evidence suggests that universal provision of free school meals is beneficial towards this."
Currently only children whose parents receive certain benefits receive free school meals.
Dr Darragh continued: "Similarly, while people most people know you should eat five portions of fruit and vegetables every day, few actually do it.
"Young children in England already benefit from a daily fruit and veg scheme, getting a piece of fresh fruit or a portion of vegetables every day, and we would like to see a similar scheme introduced here, ideally with all primary school children benefitting from it."
(CD/MH)
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