ONLY a fifth of children taking part in a survey about school dinners in Wales have said they are full after their meal, research reveals today.

Almost half said they are unable to have seconds if they ask for it.

Rocio Cifuentes, Children’s Commissioner for Wales, who surveyed schools across the country, called the findings “an important snapshot of children’s views on a vital aspect of their lives.”

She called on the Welsh government to listen to children as they review current school dinner guidelines.

On nutrition, 24 per cent of children said they cannot always have vegetables if they want them, and 22 per cent said fruit was unavailable to them.

Ms Cifuentes said that many children rely on a school meal as their most important source of energy and nutrition because working families are struggling to put food on the table.

She said: “In the current societal context, it feels more important than ever that the main meal children are having in school gives them the energy and the nutrients they need to grow, to play, and to learn.

“This isn’t just about [the] right to good food, but to healthy development, access to education, and mitigating the impacts of child poverty too.”

A Welsh government spokesperson said the regulations and guidance on portion sizes are “due to be reviewed shortly.”