The introduction of diverse meal options in school nutrition is a significant achievement for Kyiv's educational institutions. This was highlighted by Valentyn Mondryiivskyi, Deputy Head of the Kyiv City State Administration, during a panel discussion at the European School Nutrition Summit.
He shared insights on the implementation of the school nutrition reform that began in Kyiv in 2018, which unfolded in three phases: the establishment of standards, the selection of meal formats, and the dissemination of best practices across all schools.
“Currently, five municipal enterprises and three private companies provide meals in the capital, while three institutions independently cater for children with their own chefs. Almost 50% of schools offer a buffet, and 40% provide a 'double menu', allowing students to choose between two dishes. We have transformed the concept of school lunches, giving children the freedom to select food according to their preferences,” said Mondryiivskyi.
He further noted that the journey toward these changes was challenging. To ensure the highest quality, penalties had to be introduced for market operators as stipulated in the agreements regarding meal organization. A 20% fine of the contract amount is imposed for poor service, while delays incur penalties, and if food waste exceeds 50%, services are not compensated.
Valentyn Mondryiivskyi reminded that as part of the reform, every third cafeteria was renovated (in 129 schools), modern equipment was purchased for 331 cafeterias (79% of schools), and tableware and kitchen utensils were replaced in every fifth school.
Today, various models of food service are operating in the capital's schools:
- On-site cooking – meals are prepared and served by chefs who are part of the educational institution's staff or market operators directly in the school cafeterias (this accounts for 86.3% of the total number, which is 356). This is currently the primary model;
- Smart kitchens – meals are prepared in a central school and delivered to neighboring educational institutions.
“This reform is primarily about the child and for the child, specifically for the 244,000 students in Kyiv who attend school every day. Over 60% of students regularly receive meals,” Mondryiivskyi concluded.
