How Do We Make Lunchtimes Better? | Liz Worthen on Creating Value In Schools

What makes a good lunchtime? From pupils' wellbeing and belonging to staff deployment, food waste and sustainability, we explore how schools can make more of this important part of the day.

Episode: 42
Listening time: 10 minutes
Released: 20 October 2026

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Episode content

Food carries a lot of feelings. It nurtures and nourishes us, helping us learn, teach and lead – and giving us a chance to relax, reset and connect with others.

In schools, lunchtimes can also be a pressure point. Behaviour, time, costs, staffing and resourcing can all create challenges. But what if we thought about lunchtimes as an opportunity to create value for people, planet and resources?

How do we make sure lunchtime works for pupils and staff, supporting wellbeing, play and belonging?
What do we want staff doing at lunchtime, and how can we make the best use of their time and skills?
How does the food we serve connect to climate action?
How can reducing food waste bring benefits for schools and their communities?

This episode is a conversation starter. We'd love to talk more about food and hear about your barriers, priorities, what's worked and what hasn't. Check out the links below for ways to get in touch.

“Food doesn't only matter for the children. Everyone needs the opportunity to refuel, relax, and reset.”

Host and contributors

Podcast host Liz Worthen is the Founder of Creating Value in Schools. Her career in education spans teaching, training, commissioning and programme development, creating resources which enable leaders to flourish in their roles. In this episode Liz investigates lunchtime questions with the aid of some previous podcast guests.

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