What’s on the menu? A review of school meal quality across 29 countries

Case Studies & Research
2026
p. 1-38
Periodical title
Public Health Nutrition

This study evaluates global school meal quality through nutrient composition analyses and the Global Diet Quality Score (GDQS)-Meal and -Menu metrics. Data were collected from the Global Child Nutrition Foundation’s 2024 Global Survey of School Meal Programs, grey literature, and in-country stakeholders. Nutritional content was compared to age-specific Nutrient Reference Values, including Harmonized Average Requirements. The nutritional quality of meals and menus was assessed using GDQS metrics based on 25 food groups. Most menus met or exceeded 30% of recommended daily nutrient values. Lunches had the highest nutrient contributions, followed by snacks and breakfasts. GDQS-Meal and -Menu scores revealed variability across age groups, meal types, and countries. Overall, 57% of menus achieved high nutritional quality, 37% medium, and 6% low. Few menus lost points for unhealthy components. Diverse, balanced menus with healthy food groups scored higher, though fortification also proved nutritionally valuable. While most menus contribute significantly to daily nutrient needs, variability across countries, age groups, and meal types highlights opportunities for context-specific improvements through diversification and fortification. Learning from high-performing peer programs can help identify feasible improvements.

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IIEP