Swedish Food Agency Publishes Management Report on 2026 National Guidelines for Meals at School

A new set of national guidelines from the Swedish Food Agency (Livsmedelsverket) aims to encourage more students to eat school lunch, as one in three lower‑secondary pupils currently skip it. The Management Report of 2026 National Guidelines for Meals at School highlights that many replace the meal with snacks, sweets, and sugary drinks, which negatively affects both health and academic performance. According to the agency, the main reason students avoid school lunch is not the food itself but the dining environment, which is often perceived as stressful, noisy, and unsafe.

The updated National Guidelines for Meals in School therefore emphasise improving the school dining environment and increasing the minimum recommended seated eating time from 20 to 25 minutes. Research shows that a calmer, more welcoming atmosphere helps students choose proper meals over unhealthy alternatives. The guidelines also stress the importance of changing attitudes toward school food by helping students understand how nutritious meals support both physical and mental well‑being.

Livsmedelsverket highlights school lunch as a powerful tool to promote public health, reduce stress, and support learning. Greater collaboration between meal staff, school personnel, and student involvement is seen as crucial to creating safer, more appealing meal environment.