The study examines the holiday meals provision for children and shows how it is embedded
in society. Proper nutrition for children is very important for their physical and
cognitive development. However, international research shows that children’s social
and cultural backgrounds significantly influence their nutrition. To reduce these disparities
and achieve healthy eating for all children, effective government intervention is needed.
In Hungary, school canteens and free meals during school holidays for children in
need serve this purpose. The latter service is of great importance for the children
of families affected by food poverty. Yet, statistics show that some of these children
are unable to use the service. This study examines the period before 2016 and highlights
the social embeddedness of the service and its consequences on the provision. Whether
child food poverty is perceived as a social issue and a common cause generating community
intervention largely depends on the correct problem perception of the local actor,
the local ap- praisal of need, and the consideration of parents’ ‘deservingness’.
The study also makes some suggestions on areas where further interventions should
focus in order to improve the nutrition of children affected by food poverty.
