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Lebanons first national baseline on school nutrition
Lebanon has launched its first National Nutrition and Food Environment Report in Lebanese public schools, aiming to establish a countrywide evidence base to guide policies and programmes for childrens nutrition and long-term wellbeing. The assessment was led by the Ministry of Education and Higher Education and carried out in coordination with the Agence francaise de developpement (AFD), the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), UNICEF, and the International Orthodox Christian Charity.
The report is based on data collected from 528 schools, 6,712 students, and 4,449 families. Across all governorates, it examines students nutritional status, dietary practices, nutrition knowledge, purchasing behaviours and physical activity, alongside the food environment in and around schools.
Key findings on diets, food environments and marketing
The assessment points to significant challenges in school food environments. It reports low dietary diversity and unhealthy food choices, including high consumption of sweetened beverages, fast food, and ultra-processed foods.
More than half of students (57%) did not meet the Global Dietary Recommendations. The report also found that foods not permitted under existing guidance were widely available, and that unhealthy foods and beverages were marketed to children through physical and digital channels.
In addition, nearly one in five students reported having no snack or money to buy food during the school day. The assessment notes limited household purchasing power as a contextual constraint.
School meals programme findings
The report includes comparisons between students in different school contexts. It found that students in schools supported by the school meals programme were more likely to meet dietary recommendations.
It also reports that food outlets in participating schools showed better adherence to nutrition standards. Caregivers interviewed in the assessment said that school meals helped children try nutritious foods, eased household costs, and increased childrens enjoyment of school.
Government coordination and partner roles
WFPs Lebanon Country Director and Representative, Allison Oman Lawi, said the assessment provides Lebanon with an evidence base for action and that WFP is committed to working with the Ministry and partners to expand sustainable school meal programmes to reach the most vulnerable children and strengthen local food systems.
UNICEF Representative in Lebanon, Marco Luigi Corsi, emphasized that childrens food choices are shaped by what is available around schools, what is marketed to them, and the physical activity opportunities they have, along with broader household conditions. He called for coordinated action across multiple government ministries, including Education, Public Health, Agriculture, Economy and Trade, and Social Affairs, as well as stronger policies, legislation, and enforcement to protect children from unhealthy food marketing.
In remarks at the launch, the Director General of Education, Fadi Yarak, spoke on behalf of Minister of Education and Higher Education Dr Rima Karami. The Ministry presented school feeding as part of education quality and equitable learning, aligned with its Strategic Vision for Educational Renewal 2040, and cited emergency expansion of the programme to around 150,000 students as an example of how coordinated action can reach more children.
International support for a national policy direction
Frances Ambassador to Lebanon, H.E. Patrick Durel, said France is working with Lebanon and partners to help turn school meal initiatives into a lasting national policy led by Lebanese institutions and focused on the most vulnerable children. Norways Ambassador to Lebanon and Syria, Hilde Haraldstad, said the assessment reflects cooperation between Lebanons Ministry of Education and Higher Education, WFP, and UNICEF, and noted that ensuring national ownership and sustainability is central to the effort.
Why the assessment matters for national planning
By documenting nutrition status, school-day food access, dietary practices, and the school food environment, the report is intended to strengthen decision-making on nutrition and school feeding. Its cross-sectoral scope also points to the role of regulation and enforcement--particularly around foods and marketing in and around schools--alongside support for healthier school meals and nutrition education.
Key Details
Initiative or programme: National Nutrition and Food Environment Report in Lebanese Public Schools
Lead organization: Ministry of Education and Higher Education (Lebanon)
Partners: Agence francaise de developpement (AFD), WFP, UNICEF, International Orthodox Christian Charity
Funding amount: Not specified in the provided source
Geographic focus: All governorates in Lebanon
Target groups: Students in Lebanese public schools; families/caregivers associated with surveyed students
Data coverage: 528 schools, 6,712 students, and 4,449 families
Duration or timeline: Launched this week; report date shown as 22 October 2026 (as published by WFP)
Expected reach or outcomes: Establish a national evidence base to guide policies and programmes on childrens nutrition and long-term wellbeing
Why This Matters
The launch offers development practitioners and NGOs a clearer picture of how school food environments in Lebanon may shape childrens diets and opportunities for physical activity. The reports findings--particularly on dietary diversity, availability and marketing of unhealthy foods, and barriers to snack access--highlight why school-based nutrition strategies increasingly need to combine meal support with food environment regulation, nutrition education, and enforcement.
For organizations working in education, health, and social protection, the assessment also underscores the potential role of school meals programmes as a practic
