ISMD encourages children and young people from around the world to connect and talk about the food they eat and the role it plays in their lives. It also aims to raise awareness of good nutrition for all children regardless of their circumstances.
Since its launch in 2013, it has brought together teachers and students, policy makers, school cooks, chefs, food and nutrition professionals, schools and communities, charities, businesses and health professionals from around the world to talk about the importance of school meals and its impact on wellbeing and education.
The aims of ISMD are:
- To raise awareness of the importance of the nutritional quality of school meal programmes worldwide
- Emphasise the connection between healthy eating, education and better learning
- Connect children around the world to foster healthy eating habits and promote well-being in schools
- Share success stories of school meal programmes around the globe
- Highlight research activities in school meal programmes around the globe
- Raise awareness of the hunger and poverty issues being addressed through school feeding programmes
Schools can get involved in ISMD by creating an international menu day, running fun food activities or by holding fundraising activities to support school feeding programmes in developing countries.