Liudmyla Chymbay
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4647-2471
Larysa Popkova
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9434-1775
REFORMING THE SCHOOL MEAL SYSTEM IN UKRAINE: CHALLENGES AND OUTCOMES
Full text (pdf)
Language: Ukrainian
Abstract. The article examines transformational processes in the school meal system in Ukraine in the context of implementing state policy aimed at preserving public health. Scholarly approaches of Ukrainian researchers to the outlined issue are reviewed and systematised. Based on data from the COSI initiative, the study highlights negative trends in the prevalence of overweight and obesity among school children, which serve as a prerequisite for systemic changes in school nutrition within general secondary education institutions (GSEIs) in Ukraine. The regulatory and legal framework, and the key stages of the reform are analysed, with a focus on the transition to modern standards of rational nutrition and the improvement of service quality in GSEIs. Special attention is given to the challenges faced by the education sector in general and the school meal system in particular as a result of the full-scale invasion of the russian federation, including the destruction of school food service infrastructure, disruption of supply chains, shortages of qualified personnel, and the need to adapt menus under conditions of limited resources. The dynamics of state financial support for the reform are examined, including the provision of subventions for the modernisation of school kitchens and the provision of free hot meals for children in grades 1–4 in 2024. The results of implementing modern models of school meal organisation, such as basic kitchen, hub kitchen, and kitchen factory, are presented, demonstrating their capacity to optimise food preparation processes depending on the capacity of educational institutions. Based on statistical data from the SSI “Institute of Educational Analytics”, the study analyses the availability of facilities for providing hot meals in GSEIs, as well as the implementation of new organisational mechanisms, such as outsourcing and catering. International experience in the use of such services in educational institutions is also highlighted.
Keywords: rational nutrition, reform strategy, technological models of school meal organisation, outsourcing, catering, subvention.
https://doi.org/10.32987/2617-8532-2026-1-106-124
Keywords: rational nutrition, reform strategy, technological models of school meal organisation, outsourcing, catering, subvention.
https://doi.org/10.32987/2617-8532-2026-1-106-124
References:
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15. Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine. (2024). Some issues of providing subventions from the state budget to local budgets for providing meals to primary school students of general secondary education institutions in 2024 (Resolution No. 1145, October 4). Retrieved from https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/1145-2024-%D0%BF#Text [in Ukrainian].
16. Government portal. (2025). School nutrition reform: 2 million children already receive free hot lunches; the state is preparing to scale up the program. Retrieved from https://www.kmu.gov.ua/news/reforma-shkilnoho-kharchuvannia-2-mln-ditei-uzhe-otrymuiut-bezoplatni-hariachi-obidy-derzhava-hotuietsia-do-masshtabuvannia-prohramy [in Ukrainian].
17. Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine. (2025). Expansion of the free school meals program: what will change? Retrieved from https://mon.gov.ua/news/rozshyrennia-prohramy-bezoplatnoho-shkilnoho-kharchuvannia-shcho-zminytsia [in Ukrainian].
18. SSI “Institute of Educational Analytics”. (n. d.). Information on the material and technical base and the use of modern information technologies in general secondary education institutions (without special secondary education institutions) of the Ministry of Education and Science, other ministries and departments, and private institutions (2023/2024-2024/2025 academic years). Retrieved from https://iea.gov.ua/diyalnist/naukovo-analitichna-diyalnist/analitika/ [in Ukrainian].
19. Global Growth Insights. (2026). Outsourced Food Services Market Size. Retrieved from https://www.globalgrowthinsights.com/market-reports/outsourced-food-services-market-116359?utm.
2. Hryshchenko, S. (2024). Medical and social aspects of rational nutrition to support the health of Ukrainian teenagers. Modern pediatrics. Ukraine, 2(138), 125-132. DOI: https://doi.org/10.15574/SP.2024.138.125 [in Ukrainian].
3. Merkulova, T. Peresypkina, T., Cherniakova, H. & Avdiievska O. (2020). To the question of organization school feeding. Clinical and preventive medicine, 2, 54-61. DOI: https://doi.org/10.31612/2616-4868.2(12).2020.02 [in Ukrainian].
4. Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. (2014). On education (Act No. 2145-VIII, September 5). Retrieved from https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/2145-19#Text [in Ukrainian].
5. Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. (1992). Fundamentals of Ukrainian legislation on healthcare (Act No. 2801-XII, November 19). Retrieved from https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/2801-12#Text [in Ukrainian].
6. President of Ukraine. (2020). On the National strategy for the development of a safe and healthy educational environment in the New Ukrainian school (Decree No. 195/2020, May 25). Retrieved from https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/195/2020/conv#n11 [in Ukrainian].
7. Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine. (2020). On approval of the action plan for reforming the school nutrition system (Decree No. 1008-р, August 5). Retrieved from https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/1008-2020-%D1%80#n8 [in Ukrainian].
8. Ministry of Health of Ukraine. (2020). On approval of the Sanitary Regulations for general secondary education institutions (Order No. 2205, September 25). Retrieved from https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/z1111-20#Text [in Ukrainian].
9. Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine. (2021). On approval of the norms and procedure for organizing catering in educational institutions and children’s health and recreation facilities (Resolution No. 305, March 24). Retrieved from https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/305-2021-%D0%BF#n148 [in Ukrainian].
10. Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine. (2023). On approval of the Strategy for reforming the school nutrition system for the period until 2027 and approval of the operational plan of measures for its implementation in 2023-2024 (Decree No. 990-р, October 27). Retrieved from https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/990-2023-%D1%80#Text [in Ukrainian].
11. Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine. (2024). On approval of the Standard educational program for advanced training of heads of educational institutions in the field of “Implementation of school nutrition reform” (Order No. 674, May 14). Retrieved from https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/rada/show/v0674729-24#Text [in Ukrainian].
12. Lopushynskyi, I., & Lopushynska, N. (2024). Reforming the school food system in Ukraine: administrative aspect. Scientific Bulletin of Vinnytsia Academy of Continuing Education. Series: Ecology. Public Administration, 1(5), 85-93. DOI: https://doi.org/10.32782/2786-5681-2024-1.11 [in Ukrainian].
13. Basyuk, D., & Fedorova, D. (2024). Reforming the school nutrition system in Ukraine. Commodities and markets, 52(4), 49-72. DOI: https://doi.org/10.31617/2.2024(52)04 [in Ukrainian].
14. Irynevych, Ju., Gaiduk, I., Bochkareva, T., & Kolomiiets, A. (2025). Organisational and legal aspects of providing meals in general secondary education institutions in Ukraine. Educational Analytics of Ukraine, 3(35), 54-70. DOI: https://doi.org/10.32987/2617-8532-2025-3-54-70 [in Ukrainian].
15. Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine. (2024). Some issues of providing subventions from the state budget to local budgets for providing meals to primary school students of general secondary education institutions in 2024 (Resolution No. 1145, October 4). Retrieved from https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/1145-2024-%D0%BF#Text [in Ukrainian].
16. Government portal. (2025). School nutrition reform: 2 million children already receive free hot lunches; the state is preparing to scale up the program. Retrieved from https://www.kmu.gov.ua/news/reforma-shkilnoho-kharchuvannia-2-mln-ditei-uzhe-otrymuiut-bezoplatni-hariachi-obidy-derzhava-hotuietsia-do-masshtabuvannia-prohramy [in Ukrainian].
17. Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine. (2025). Expansion of the free school meals program: what will change? Retrieved from https://mon.gov.ua/news/rozshyrennia-prohramy-bezoplatnoho-shkilnoho-kharchuvannia-shcho-zminytsia [in Ukrainian].
18. SSI “Institute of Educational Analytics”. (n. d.). Information on the material and technical base and the use of modern information technologies in general secondary education institutions (without special secondary education institutions) of the Ministry of Education and Science, other ministries and departments, and private institutions (2023/2024-2024/2025 academic years). Retrieved from https://iea.gov.ua/diyalnist/naukovo-analitichna-diyalnist/analitika/ [in Ukrainian].
19. Global Growth Insights. (2026). Outsourced Food Services Market Size. Retrieved from https://www.globalgrowthinsights.com/market-reports/outsourced-food-services-market-116359?utm.
