(i) To identify determinants of participation in the ‘Healthy School Canteen Program’, a programme that encourages schools to set up their canteen in a way that promotes healthy dietary behaviour. (ii) To compare food supply and actions between participating and non-participating schools. (iii) To investigate what reasons schools have to increase attention for nutrition in the curriculum.

A cross-sectional study based on information from questionnaires performed in 2010/2011.

All secondary schools (age group 12–18 years) in the Netherlands (n 1145).

Response was 33 % (n 375). Analyses included all schools with a canteen in which food is offered (28 %, n 325).

None of the investigated determinants was associated with participation. Participating schools offered significantly (P < 0·001) more of eleven inventoried healthy foods (e.g. sandwiches, (butter)milk, fruit, light soft drinks, yoghurt and salad) than non-participating schools. However, there was no difference in the number of less healthy products offered (e.g. candy bars, cakes and regular soft drinks). Participating schools reported more often that they took actions to improve dietary behaviour and more often had a policy on nutrition. Participating schools more often increased attention for nutrition in the curriculum in recent years than non-participating schools (57 % v. 43 %, P = 0·01). Reported reasons were similar and included media attention, eating behaviour of students and ‘overweight’.

Schools that participate in the programme seemed to offer more healthy products in their canteens and took more actions to improve dietary behaviour than non-participating schools. However, at all schools less healthy foods were also available.

The present study is to describe, on the basis of recent Finnish population surveys, (i) the frequencies of school and worksite canteen use, (ii) the determinants of having a hot lunch during school or working hours and (iii) the associations of lunch eating patterns with food habits.

The study summarises mainly basic reports and studies concerning catering services conducted in Finland based on nationally representative population surveys.

Cross-sectional study. The most important surveys cited in this paper are the School Health Promotion Study, the Work and the Working Conditions survey, the National FINDIET 2002 Study, and the Health Behavior and Health among Finnish Adult Population survey.

School lunch is eaten by on average 70–90 % of children aged 9–18 years. Of all employees, 30 % eat at a worksite canteen daily, whereas 30 % of men and 45 % of women eat packed lunches. Nationally representative cross-sectional population surveys show that the use of catering services is associated with more healthy food habits; schoolchildren eating school meals and employees eating lunch at a worksite canteen tend to make food choices closer to nutritional recommendations as compared to those not using catering services to the same degree.

Some evidence exists that catering services in schools and worksites contribute to healthy eating habits in the population. In order to verify the positive role of catering services more scientific research with prospective and intervention design studies will be needed.