Healthy food in schools is essential for helping children develop lifelong healthy dietary habits, as emphasized by the World Health Organization (WHO) in its new guidelines. These guidelines advocate for a whole-school approach to ensure that food and beverages offered in schools are nutritious. The rise in childhood obesity, expected to affect 188 million school-aged children by 2025, underscores the importance of addressing malnutrition, both overweight and underweight.
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, stresses that the nutritional quality of food served at schools significantly influences children’s learning and long-term health outcomes. With approximately 466 million children receiving school meals worldwide, there is a pressing need to improve the nutritional standards of these meals. The WHO recommends setting rules to promote healthy foods and reduce unhealthy options, alongside implementing nudging techniques to encourage better food choices.
Monitoring and enforcement are critical for the effective application of these guidelines. WHO notes that as of October 2025, 104 Member States had adopted healthy school food policies, but many still lack adequate regulations against marketing unhealthy foods. The guidelines, developed by a multidisciplinary team of experts, aim to enhance local and national efforts in creating healthier food environments as part of overarching global health initiatives. WHO plans to support the adaptation and implementation of these guidelines through technical assistance and collaborations, highlighted by a global webinar scheduled for 27 January 2026.
Source: WHO
