New school dinner rules revealed, including compulsory lentils, fewer puddings and no fried chips

New school food rules will bring more fruit, vegetables, wholegrains and pulses to menus, while deep-fried food and some desserts face restrictions.

A high angle view of a young teenage girl who is looking at the options for her lunch. There is plenty of choice of fresh fruit and snacks to choose from in the chiller cabinet.

Getty/SolStock

Published: September 14, 2026 at 11:44 AM

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Schools in England are set for their biggest shake-up of school dinners in more than a decade, with new rules designed to make meals healthier for children.

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From September 2027, primary schools will need to serve more fruit and vegetables, wholegrains and pulses, while deep-fried food will be banned. Secondary schools will have longer to introduce some of the changes, with the rollout continuing until September 2028.

The changes also mean some of the classic school dinner favourites, including chips, pizza and sweet desserts, will look a little different.

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What will change on school dinner menus?

Under the new standards, schools will need to include a portion of vegetables or salad with every main meal, either alongside the dish or incorporated into it.

Wholegrains and pulses, such as lentils and chickpeas, will also become a requirement alongside main meal options at least once a week.

Other changes include:

Schools will also have to publish their menus and food policies online and nominate a school food governor to oversee the food being provided.

It's a massive issue for parents. And we want our children to be healthy.

Georgia Gould, Minister for Schools

What about chips, pizza and pudding?

For parents wondering whether children's favourite meals are disappearing altogether, Schools Minister Georgia Gould said there would still be room for familiar options, but they will be prepared differently or served less often.

Speaking to Nick Ferrari on LBC, Ms Gould said: "It's a massive issue for parents. And we want our children to be healthy."

She confirmed that fish and chips "will still be allowed" but said the chips would be baked rather than fried.

Desserts will also be less frequent. Ms Gould explained: "At the moment you could have dessert [like] apple crumble, ice cream every day. In the new rules, it would be twice a week, but with fruit attached to it."

For primary schools, sweet desserts will be offered once a week, while secondary schools will have different arrangements as the new standards are phased in.

Cheese-based meals will also be limited. In primary schools, dishes such as pizza will be allowed twice a week, while secondary schools will gradually move towards the same limit.

When will the new school food rules start?

The new standards will begin in primary schools in September 2027.

Secondary schools will have a longer, phased rollout, with changes being introduced through to September 2028.

Ms Gould said schools and caterers would have a year to prepare and that the government would take a "sensible phased approach" to implementation.

The Department for Education says the reforms are intended to tackle childhood obesity and tooth decay, while supporting children's concentration, learning and wellbeing.

Breakfast clubs will also have new food rules

The changes aren't limited to lunchtime. For the first time, breakfast clubs will have nutrition standards to follow.

Pastries and fried eggs will not be allowed, while cereals will be subject to a sugar cap.

The government said cereals such as Coco Pops would no longer be permitted and chocolate spread would not be allowed.

Since February 2026, 1,250 schools have offered free breakfast clubs to pupils.

What do schools and parents think?

School leaders have broadly welcomed the changes, although concerns have been raised about the cost of delivering them.

Pepe Di'Iasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said parents would feel "reassured" that schools were providing children with a healthy diet.

However, he warned that the new rules should not become "another stick with which to beat head teachers" and said schools needed more investment in catering facilities and chef training.

The government says the changes will be funded through existing school budgets and that it is investing £1 billion in the rollout of free school meals.

The new food standards come as free school meal eligibility in England expands to all children from families receiving Universal Credit.

At Oasis Academy Blakenhale in Birmingham, principal Farzana Ahmed said the school welcomed both changes.

"The more children that can access a hot, nutritious meal, the better it is for us, the better it is for them, and actually it really supports families with the reduction of their financial pressures at home," she said.

School dinners are changing across the UK too

The new standards apply to schools in England, while school food rules differ elsewhere in the UK.

Wales is introducing new guidance with a greater focus on offering at least two portions of vegetables each day, while Scotland's rules require pupils to be offered at least two portions of vegetables and one portion of fruit daily.

Northern Ireland's school food regulations were last updated in 2007.

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For families in England, though, the first changes to the new standards are now set to arrive in September 2027, meaning the humble school dinner could soon look quite different on the lunch tray.

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