The Advantages & Disadvantages of School Canteens

School canteens provide alternatives for children and adolescents. Schools have leeway in determining location, design, menu and hours of operation. Students can eat with their friends or study between classes in a relaxed atmosphere. Some high school teachers even hold periodic classes in the canteen. Depending on how they operate, school canteens can either benefit students and teachers or harm them with poor dietary offerings.

Helps Alleviate Childhood Hunger

• Children and adolescents spend a lot of time in school. The school canteen is a natural meeting place for students. Some canteens combine federal provided meals with competitive food alternatives. With free and pay options, children can eat at least two meals a day at school.

Helps Children Learn Better

• According to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, not having breakfast dulls intellectual performance. The U.S. Department of Agriculture supports this, reporting that the number of students who eat breakfast declines with age. Ninety-two percent of children aged 6 to 11 eat breakfast. Only 77 percent of adolescents 12 to 19 eat breakfast. School canteens provide students with both breakfast and lunch.

Lack of School Canteen Standards

• School canteens vary from school to school and state to state. Some canteens sell potato chips, soda and candy. One of the goals of the school meal program should be to reduce child and teen obesity. Vending unhealthy foods is expanding the waist size of children across America. The Institute of Medicine recommends providing fruits, vegetables, whole grain, non-fat and low fat milk products.

Competes with School Meal Programs

• School canteens can compete with other school meal programs. If enough students patronize canteens selling unhealthy foods, schools may find their federal funding for free, healthy meals may be reduced or completely eliminated.