Today, an event was held to discuss the interim results of the implementation of the School Nutrition Reform Strategy. Attendees included the Prime Minister of Ukraine, Yulia Svyrydenko, the First Lady of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska, and representatives from various institutions and organizations.
Participants discussed the successful transition from isolated changes to a systematic state policy regarding free hot meals for children in Ukrainian schools. Currently, over 2 million children have the opportunity to receive this service, and the next goal is to reach 3 million students.
The Goal of the Reform
The main goal of the reform is to provide children with access to healthy food in schools, regardless of their place of residence. Overall, the idea is to instill healthy eating habits among Ukrainian children and their families.
“The school nutrition reform is not just a change in food, but a transformation of perceptions about a healthy lifestyle and its impact on the daily lives of every family. It is also a prevention of diseases in adults. In the coming years, the 'Health Screening 40+' program will be launched, which will allow for the timely identification of cardiovascular disease risks and the initiation of preventive measures. Healthy eating for children and timely risk detection in adults is the key to a long and healthy life in Ukraine”
Results of the Reform
Thanks to the initial steps of the reform initiated by the First Lady, school meals for Ukrainian children have received a new quality standard. Standards for healthy eating have been improved, the food variety has been balanced, the menus adjusted for seasonality, and individual child needs taken into account. Ukraine is now a member of international initiatives on school nutrition and actively participates in global dialogues on children's healthy eating. Additionally, approaches to nutrition in hospitals are being improved.
In Ukraine, several important studies have been conducted regarding citizens' eating habits, confirming the need for changes. The next step will be to assess the results of the reform and gradually scale changes to improve the health of children and families as a whole.
As a result of the event dedicated to reforming school nutrition in Ukraine, a successful path towards improving the quality and availability of healthy nutrition for children was emphasized. The reform has already yielded the first positive results, but continuing actions and monitoring the impact of these changes are key to achieving the global goal - creating healthy eating among the population of Ukraine.