Krasnoyarsk’s school meal reforms show progress but face lingering challenges

From renovated kitchens to nutrition coordinators, Krasnoyarsk is fixing school lunches—but students still push away cabbage and fish. Can the city win the battle for better meals?

, and Administrator

2025 November 14 . 5:23 AM

1 min read

In this picture I can see there is some food places and there is some other food places at the... — In this picture I can see there is some food places and there is some other food places at the right side. They are placed on a red surface.

Krasnoyarsk’s school meal reforms show progress but face lingering challenges

The school meal program in Krasnoyarsk has seen significant improvements, yet challenges persist. The City Council acknowledges the complexity of the issue, impacting students' nutrition and satisfaction.

Renovations have transformed school cafeterias, making them more appealing to staff. Three private catering companies now have sufficient staffing, addressing past shortages. A new initiative aims to appoint nutrition coordinators in every school to enhance cafeteria operations. This, along with improved organization, has led to fewer sanitary violations and complaints about dining conditions. However, some schools still grapple with unappetizing or cold meals and overcrowding. The Education Department reports the overall system is operating satisfactorily. A dual oversight system involving school administrators, specialists, and parents monitors cafeteria operations. Notably, dish rejection remains an issue, particularly for cabbage, fish, and liver.

While the school meal system in Krasnoyarsk shows progress, challenges like dish rejection and overcrowding persist. The City Council's recognition of the issue and the implementation of nutrition coordinators offer hope for further improvement.