Demand for fresh fruit and vegetables will be increased and fried food will be banned in what the government has described as the biggest shake-up of school lunches in England in more than a decade.
The new school meal standards will also increase fiber and whole grains, and breakfast clubs will have to comply with nutrition guidelines for the first time, with schools also being monitored.
The Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) welcomed the changes but said it hoped the new rules would not become “another stick with which to beat headteachers”.
The changes will come into force from 2027 and will be funded from existing funds for schools, the government said.
Under the new system, sweet desserts such as cake will be reduced from regular lunch to twice a week in secondary schools and once a week in primary schools. They also now need to be served with a portion of fruit.
Portions of processed meats such as ham, sausages and chicken nuggets are reduced to once a week and should be accompanied by vegetables or fruit.
Education Secretary Lucy Powell said it was a “once-in-a-generation change” that would “transform school meals for children across the country.”