Berry impressive! Pupils behave better thanks to free fruit and veg

•    94% of teachers reported improved behaviour from kids who took part in the first year of the Tesco Fruit & Veg for Schools programme
•    Over 10.8M portions of fruit and veg were eaten by UK pupils last year as part of the programme, backed by the British Nutrition Foundation
•    Tesco Fruit & Veg for Schools scheme reveals South Tyneside school bought almost 15,000 pieces of fruit and veg in one school year, winning the inaugural ‘Ultimate Munchers’ award
•    Mancunians prove they are Guac & Roll Stars, with Manchester primary school eating 10 times more than the average amount of avocados

Tesco has unwrapped the fruit and veg habits of some of Britain’s schoolkids, with new data revealing they ate a whopping 10.8M portions as part of the Fruit & Veg for Schools programme. From crunchy carrots to juicy grapes, the huge amount of healthy food enjoyed has had a significantly positive impact on pupils’ nutrition – with the kids seeing an average 7.4% increase, the equivalent of 15 days-worth, in Vitamin C intake alone.

And the scheme isn’t only filling tummies but has the potential to transform pupils’ behaviour as well. Amazingly, 94% of teachers also reported improved behaviour from kids, including sharper focus and more energy in the classroom.

Now in its second year, the Tesco Fruit & Veg for Schools programme, developed in partnership with the British Nutrition Foundation, has expanded to support over 500 schools, specifically targeted in areas with a high proportion of pupils receiving free school meals.  Their latest Impact Report, which analyses the effects of the free fruit and veg on over 140,000 children, is showing amazing results. The produce has also boosted Vitamin A by 4%, Fibre intakes increased by 3.6% and folate, which reduces tiredness, was up by 3%.

The data also revealed which participating schools were the pick of the bunch. Boldon School in South Tyneside ate the most fruit and veg overall and were named the ‘Ultimate Munchers’ with a whopping 14,778 items eaten throughout the school year, that’s nearly four times more than the average amount purchased (1).

Val Hanson, Senior Student Mentor at Boldon School, South Tyneside said: “Not in a month of Sundays did we realise the difference free fruit and veg would have on our school – it’s phenomenal.  

More than half of our pupils are on free school meals and having access to healthy food has not only made sure they’re getting the vitamins and nutrients they need, but it’s also been ideal for some of the kids who are quite vulnerable. 

We get some of the kids who are having a tough time at home or who need help with behaviour or attendance involved in the scheme, helping us to shop or distribute the fruit every week. Having that routine, being involved as part of a group, making new friends and meeting people in the shops can really build confidence and it almost works as a counselling session sometimes.”[1] 

With almost 900 tonnes of fruit and veg bought through the programme (the weight of six blue whales!) and the purchasing power in the hands of the pupils, the receipts made for interesting reading. Most popular fruits were oranges, grapes, strawberries, apples and bananas; and top of the veggies were cauliflower, carrots, potatoes, broccoli and most surprisingly, cabbage!

Mancunians have proven to be guac and roll stars with the most avocados eaten at Park View Community Primary. Officially named the ‘Avocado Aficionados’, they ate a whopping 10 times more ore than the average school in the scheme (1).

Katy Mehaffy, Family Support Officer at Park View Community Academy, said: “We were so surprised with how popular avocados have been with the children. We started buying them for the after-school club, but then the other children started seeing them and asking to try them too. We’ve found that the kids are more adventurous at school; if one of their friends is eating something, they’re more likely to give it a go.

A lot of children used to come into school hungry, which was affecting behaviour, so just being able to offer these children a piece of fruit really is life changing for them. They’re able to concentrate on their work and go back into class after a break feeling more alert.”[2] 

Teachers across the nation backed the importance of healthy eating in the classroom, with a study of 500 UK teachers (2) revealing that 96% would say that pupils are eager and more ready to learn when they’ve eaten well. The vast majority (88%) of teachers have experienced children coming to school hungry, with this figure increasing to 94% teaching in challenged areas. 66% say they brought in food from home or purchased healthy food for their pupils before as they were worried the kids weren’t getting enough food (46%). Virtually all those asked (98%) agree nutrition is a key foundation to learning but 83% say it can be difficult to inspire children when it comes to healthy eating.

It seems the nation’s schoolkids are branching out from sweet treats. In Birmingham, West Heath Primary School took to crunchy veg, ordering more carrots than anyone else*. Officially the ‘Carrot Crusaders’, the pupils purchased 14 times the national average, or 816 packs. The pupils went bananas for carrot sticks, with teachers saying they were surprised by how popular the veg was with the 4-11-year-olds who couldn’t get enough.

Claire de Silva, Head of Communities at Tesco, said: “Schools have told us what a positive impact the Tesco Fruit and Veg for Schools programme has made on their children including sharper focus, more energy and better behaviour. Every teacher we surveyed for the report agreed that the scheme has made a positive difference to the lives of each young person it has reached. By expanding the scheme in year two we can ensure that even more young people in some of the most challenged communities in the UK get access to the fruit and veg they need to thrive.” 

Pupils who participated in the first year of the scheme ate nearly 80 portions of fruit and veg, on average, with every single teacher asked agreeing that it has had a positive impact on their pupils. Nearly all (99%) teachers said the scheme encourages pupils to eat a wider variety of fruit and veg and 94% reported improved behaviour.

It’s also encouraged children to try new and unusual foods, including ones that can be hard to access on a restricted budget – like blueberries, watermelon, asparagus and more.

Elaine Hindal, Chief Executive of The British Nutrition Foundation added: “We could not be more delighted to see our work have this kind of real-world impact, and to support Tesco in taking action that drives healthier diets for children and young people in areas in need of extra support. The diet-related health of our young people is a major concern and initiatives, like this one, to promote access to healthy foods are sorely needed.”[3] 

ENDS

Notes

(1) When compared to the average spend of all schools on the programme between 4th October 2024 and the end of the academic year 24/25

Methodology:
(2) The research was conducted by Censuswide, among a sample of 500 25+ primary or secondary school teachers in UK. The data was collected between 23.10.2025 - 29.10.2025. Censuswide abides by and employs members of the Market Research Society and follows the MRS code of conduct and ESOMAR principles. Censuswide is also a member of the British Polling Council.