Abu Dhabi bans food deliveries to schools, tighten nutrition policies

Abu Dhabi: The Department of Education and Knowledge - Abu Dhabi (ADEK) has introduced new rules requiring schools to tighten healthy food policies, including a ban on food delivery services during school hours.

The measure is aimed at preventing students from ordering fast food or other unhealthy meals from outside outlets.

Ahead of the new academic year, which begins on August 25, several schools have circulated awareness messages to parents and students, highlighting the importance of proper nutrition in boosting concentration, memory, energy, and overall well-being.

Balanced meals, schools noted, not only improve physical health but also strengthen mental resilience to cope with academic pressures.

The guidance warned against foods with little nutritional value — such as crisps, sugary soft drinks, and fast food — which are high in fat and sugar but low in essential vitamins and minerals.

Schools also outlined standards for a healthy lunchbox, recommending safe, non-reactive containers with separate compartments to keep portions balanced and food fresh.

These measures are part of a broader push by authorities to promote healthy eating habits among children, with the long-term goal of establishing lifelong patterns of good nutrition.

Meanwhile, physicians and nutrition specialists pointed out that about 44 per cent of students regularly bring unhealthy items in their lunchboxes — a trend they warn is fuelling rising rates of obesity and increasing cases of diabetes among schoolchildren.

Health experts advised parents to play a more active role in shaping their children’s eating habits by preparing balanced meals at home, cutting down on processed snacks, and encouraging greater consumption of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Parents, they stressed, are vital partners in supporting schools’ efforts to foster healthier choices.