Healthy food in schools is vital for children’s lifelong dietary habits, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Recently, WHO introduced a global guideline that encourages countries to adopt a whole-school approach for better food environments. This approach aims to ensure that the meals and snacks available are healthy and nutritious.
The issue of childhood obesity is growing. By 2025, around 188 million school-aged children and adolescents are expected to be living with obesity worldwide. This number exceeds the amount of children who are underweight for the first time. Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO’s director-general, emphasized the importance of school nutrition. He stated, “The food children eat at school can profoundly impact their learning and health later in life.”
Schools are a key place for shaping dietary habits, as children spend a large part of their day there. Currently, about 466 million children receive school meals globally, but we still lack detailed information on the quality of these meals.
WHO’s guidelines suggest several strategies for schools:
- Set standards for healthy food availability and limit unhealthy options. This is a strong recommendation from WHO.
- Implement nudging interventions — small changes in how food is presented or priced that encourage healthier choices among students.
While these recommendations are crucial, policies alone won’t suffice. Monitoring and enforcement are needed to ensure effective implementation. According to the WHO Global Database on Food and Nutrition Action, as of October 2025, 104 countries had policies related to healthy school food. However, only 48 of them limit the marketing of unhealthy foods.
To develop this guideline, WHO brought together a diverse group of international experts. This work supports WHO’s mission to create healthier food environments and aligns with global initiatives to combat obesity and promote nutrition-friendly schools.
It’s important to note the role of local authorities in advancing school food initiatives. WHO is ready to assist Member States in applying these guidelines through technical support and knowledge-sharing.
As this conversation around healthy school meals continues, social media trends reveal strong support among parents and educators for better nutrition in schools. Many advocates share their experiences and success stories online, highlighting the positive changes that improve children’s diets.
In summary, healthier school food environments are crucial not just for nutrition but for overall children’s well-being.
For more detailed information about the WHO’s guidelines, visit the World Health Organization.
