image: Mathematics – estimated intervention effect, i.e., difference in estimated means after one, two, three, and four years of exposure (delta1-delta4) corrected for outcome measured at baseline, test version, age, and sex (full HPSF vs. control).
Credit: van Engelen et al., 2026, PLOS One, CC-BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
Dutch kids in schools which implement healthy lunches and more physical activity perform significantly better in math tests, per analysis of the Healthy Primary School of the Future program
Article URL: https://plos.io/3Sl0HaV
Article title: Food for thought? The effects of the Healthy Primary School of the Future on children’s educational outcomes
Author countries: The Netherlands.
Funding: De OnderwijsMonitor Limburg was funded by Kennisas project Educatieve Agenda Limburg, Provincial Government of Limburg, Maastricht University, and primary and secondary schools in the province of Limburg. The HPSF project was funded by the Limburg provincial authorities, Project Number 200130003, by Friesland Campina, Project Number LLMV00, and by Maastricht University, Project Number 200130003.
Journal
PLOS One
Article Title
Food for thought? The effects of the Healthy Primary School of the Future on children’s educational outcomes
Article Publication Date
24-Jun-2026
COI Statement
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.