School meal programs are recognized globally as key platforms to support the nutrition, physical growth, and cognitive development of children and adolescents. Recent research highlights the need to enhance not only the nutritional adequacy and dietary diversity of school meals but also to address related challenges of various health problems, sensory properties of meals, and program sustainability. Integrating local dietary preferences into school meals and creating context-informed food and nutrition policies is critical, particularly in light of rising double burdens of malnutrition (undernutrition and overweight/obesity) worldwide.

This Research Topic aims to generate actionable evidence and foster interdisciplinary dialogue for the advancement of healthy, culturally relevant, and sustainable school meal programs. Special emphasis is placed on approaches that improve dietary diversity, address micronutrient deficiencies (especially anemia), and align with environmental and local needs. The topic aligns with the mission of Frontiers in Nutrition to address global nutrition challenges and promote health equity in children and adolescents.

We invite original research, review articles, and policy analyses that contribute to a holistic understanding and practical advancement of healthy school meal programs. This Research Topic particularly encourages submissions that address:

Nutritional and Micronutrient Adequacy

-Assessment of micronutrient status (including iron and anemia) in children and adolescents, using both established and innovative biomarkers

-Development and evaluation of dietary diversity indicators (e.g., minimum dietary diversity as proxy for micronutrient adequacy)

-Interventions to fortify or diversify school meals in resource-diverse settings

Quality and Sustainability of School Meals

-Comparative analyses of school meal systems (local, regional, international), including case studies from North America, Africa, and Central/Eastern Europe

- Evaluation of meal organization, food provision logistics, and the integration of sustainability concepts (environmental, economic, social) into school meal design

Cultural Relevance, Acceptance, and Behavioral Outcomes

-Exploration of how school meals reflect and accommodate students’ preferences and cultural backgrounds

-Mixed-methods research on the influence of school meal environments on dietary behaviors, physical activity, and learning outcomes

Nutrition Education and Policy Implementation

-Impact of nutrition education programs embedded within school meal initiatives

-Policy analyses on barriers, facilitators, and innovations in healthy school meal provision

Longitudinal and Cross-sectional Studies

-Studies assessing the short- and long-term impacts of healthy school meal interventions on health outcomes and educational attainment

Are you interested in contributing a manuscript to this Research Topic?

Advancing Healthy School Meal Programs: Integrating Nutritional Quality, Dietary Diversity, and Sustainability to Promote Child and Adolescent Health