Everyone deserves good food, but not everyone has access to it. Often, cheap, ultra-processed foods make it hard to find healthier choices. This is especially true for children, who can suffer the most from poor diets. It’s crucial to provide good nutrition from an early age.
Schools can make a big difference in promoting healthy eating. They don’t just serve food; they help shape our eating habits for life. However, many school environments are not set up to encourage healthy choices. To improve this, schools need strong nutrition policies that focus on healthy options and reduce kids’ access to foods high in sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats.
One city leading the charge is Córdoba, Argentina. In 2021, Argentina passed a law aimed at promoting healthy diets. This law includes measures like warning labels on food packages, regulations on food advertising, and changes to school nutrition.
Córdoba’s initiative, called “Córdoba Elige Agua” (Córdoba Chooses Water), focuses on improving school food options. It encourages students to drink water instead of sugary beverages and limits the availability of ultra-processed foods in school shops.
The project started small, focusing on 38 city schools. They set up hydration stations to promote water and rolled out educational activities for students, staff, and families. They even created “Healthy Food and Beverage Guidelines” with the help of the Partnership for Healthy Cities.
To scale up the initiative, Córdoba introduced a new city policy. In June 2024, the Mayor issued a decree mandating that all municipal schools serve only healthy food in their kiosks and promote water as the main drink. This policy applies to all city schools, with clear guidelines for implementation.
So far, the results have been amazing. Every municipal school in Córdoba now provides safe, free drinking water. In 2025, the city was awarded by the Partnership for Healthy Cities for its achievements in school nutrition. Córdoba has become a model for other cities by successfully implementing these healthy food guidelines.
In the broader context, recent studies show that poor dietary habits can lead to long-term health issues like obesity and diabetes. According to a survey by the World Health Organization, schools that focus on healthy eating have seen an increase in students’ overall well-being and academic performance.
By promoting a healthy school environment, Córdoba not only addresses immediate dietary needs but also fosters healthier generations for the future.
For more information about healthy diets and nutrition policies, you can check the World Health Organization guidelines.
