Why food skills belong in the school curriculum – not left to chance at home

One in ten children in Europe is living with obesity. Per The Conversation, a University of Leeds study of nearly twenty thousand European children found that those able to peel vegetables with a peeler were fifteen percent less likely to be obese—and teaching these skills should happen at school, not just at home. The research reveals a puzzle: children who cook at home actually show higher obesity rates, likely because parents tend to make high-fat, high-sugar foods like cakes, or because kids living with obesity already seek out food more. That's why structured school learning matters. In Japan, the Shokuiku programme integrates diet and cooking into the curriculum, and the country has achieved a four point four percent obesity rate among young people, compared to eight point two percent globally. Researchers recommend around twenty-four hours of food skills education annually in primary school—roughly twelve two-hour sessions—focused on simple vegetable dishes to build healthy habits that last.

Listen to this story

Hear this and more stories in a personalized audio briefing.

Open The Chonkerton