WHO sets global standards for school meals, doctors say it’s a big step for children’s health

School meals have always been about more than filling a stomach. For many children around the world, it’s the most reliable meal of the day. And now, the World Health Organization (WHO) has stepped in to set global standards for what those meals should actually look like. Not just calories. Not just “something warm.” But food that supports growth, learning, and long-term health.“The food children eat at school, and the environments that shape what they eat, can have a profound impact on their learning, and lifelong consequences for their health and well-being,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “Getting nutrition right at school is critical for preventing disease later in life and creating healthier adults.” The WHO has released the guidelines with evidence-based recommendations under three areas: direct food provision in schools; nutrition standards or rules for foods and beverages served or sold at school; and nudging interventions that modify the school food environment to promote healthier choices.“Today, an estimated 466 million children receive school meals globally, yet there remains limited information available about the nutritional quality of the food they are served,” it says as it adds that in 2025, about 1 in 10 school-aged children and adolescents, 188 million, were living with obesity worldwide."The recommendations aim to increase the availability, purchase and consumption of foods and beverages that contribute to a healthy diet, and to reduce the presence and consumption of those that do not. The guideline emphasizes that foods and beverages provided, served, sold or consumed at schools should be safe and support healthy diets, in line with children’s rights and national public health goals," it says. Welcoming the move, Dr. Vivek Jain, Senior Director & Unit Head - Paediatrics, Fortis Hospital, Shalimar Bagh told TOI Health, “Healthier food options in schools, combined with positive food environments in schools, can influence how children eat early on in life by encouraging children to make healthier food choices, like fruit, vegetables, and whole grains rather than eating sugary and salty snacks, which will lead to developing good eating habits.”Diabetes and glaucoma: Doctor shares tips to protect vision from the double threatNipah virus can remain dormant for up to 45 days: Doctors reveal why this silent period is dangerous for health“Since children spend a significant part of each day at school, their eating habits and access to choices in school largely influence what is considered normal in their lives, which affects their focus in class, memory retention, and ability to learn. Healthier food environments that provide meals with proper balance encourage children to perform better academically than if they were in an unhealthy food environment and set the foundation for children to develop lifelong healthy eating habits. Over time, developing these eating habits will help children consume fewer calories than necessary and decrease their chances of becoming obese children and adults and developing type 2 diabetes and other obesity-related diseases later in life and create a healthier generation,” says Dr Vivek highlighting one of the key issues in children’s health in India. Adding to this, Dr Sonali Ghosh, Principal Consultant- Paediatrics & HOD PICU, Yatharth Super Speciality Hospital, Sector 20, Faridabad says, “India is currently burdened by three main nutritional problems: undernourishment, micronutrient insufficiency, and burgeoning numbers of overweight and obese people. All three problems are having a negative impact on social and economic advancement in the country. According to the National Family Health Survey for 2019-21, nearly half of the 15-19-year-olds in the country are anemic, and addressing this problem through healthy childhood nutrition is an urgent priority. Because early dietary habits tend to persist into later life, families and schools have an integral part to play in establishing healthy eating patterns.”Dr Sonali emphasized on the role of parents. “To support children in developing healthy eating habits, parents may pack lunches that include a variety of wholesome foods such as whole grain breads and cereals, fruits, and vegetables; facilitate drinking water instead of sugar-loaded beverages; involve their child in grocery shopping or preparing meals; gradually introduce new, healthy foods to their child; and have no electronic devices at the table during mealtime.”At the same time, Dr Vivek stressed on the role of government and school in encouraging healthy eating practices in kids. “Governments and schools can help limit children's exposure to foods high in sugar and salt by implementing nutrition standards that ban the sale and promotion of unhealthy foods in schools, such as vending machines and cafeteria selections. They can also use various placement options (e.g., fruits and vegetables at eye level), enticing (e.g., appealing, affordable healthy selections), and pricing (e.g., discounts on healthy food) to promote healthier food choices in schools.”Dr. Sonali added that programs like Eat Right Schools provide additional opportunities for teacher role modelling in order to reinforce healthy habits. “In addition to including food education in curricula, some policies also require providing nutrition training for staff, along with monitoring compliance. In addition to shifting consumption patterns through taxes/subsidies, the creation of environments in which making healthy eating choices becomes the simplest choice for students is another approach to increasing the number of students who eat healthy,” Dr Vivek adds. Medical experts consultedThis article includes expert inputs shared with TOI Health by: Dr. Vivek Jain, Senior Director & Unit Head - Paediatrics, Fortis Hospital, Shalimar BaghDr Sonali Ghosh, Principal Consultant- Paediatrics & HOD PICU, Yatharth Super Speciality Hospital, Sector 20, FaridabadInputs were used to discuss the recent global standard set by WHO on school meals.