The Flemish government reached an agreement on Tuesday on how to implement healthy meals in schools. It will provide about 70 million euros – about 170 euros per child – per year, and schools will be allowed to decide how to spend the money.

One of Vooruit’s main election platforms last year was “a free healthy meal for every child in kindergarten and primary school in Flanders”. The Socialist party wanted to spend 3 euros per child per day, but Tuesday’s agreement does not go that far.

Vooruit, CD&V and N-VA agreed on a budget of 23 million euros for this year. This will rise to 73 million euros per year in the coming legislative years. For every 100 euros spent by Flanders, the cities and municipalities are expected to contribute at least 75 euros.

Flanders has about 720,000 pupils in kindergarten and primary education. This means that the budget amounts to about 170 euros per child. Divided by the number of days in a school year, this amounts to just under one euro per child per day.

“Every child, whether they have rich or poor parents, (…) has a right to healthy food and the many benefits it brings”

Voluntary participation

Participation in the project is voluntary. Schools that choose to participate can decide for themselves how to use the budget. This can range from providing fruit, a bowl of soup every day, a breakfast pack or a hot meal. However, the food must be healthy. Schools can also ask parents for a contribution.

Flemish Welfare minister Caroline Gennez (Vooruit) stresses that the budget is “for every child, not just children from underprivileged families”. “Every child, whether they have rich or poor parents, (…) has a right to healthy food and the many benefits it brings,” she said on Tuesday.

^{#FlandersNewsService | © CLEMENT MAHOUDEAU / AFP}

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