On 12 March 2026, partners across Europe celebrate International School Meals Day 2026, highlighting the importance of school meals for children’s health, education and sustainable food systems. Within the Horizon 2020-funded project SchoolFood4Change, cities, schools and organisations are working together to transform school food and promote healthier and more sustainable meals for students. 

EuroVienna is a project partner in SchoolFood4Change and supports the City of Vienna in implementing project activities at the local level. Through this collaboration, the project contributes to strengthening innovative approaches to school food, policy development and knowledge exchange in Vienna. 

School food is often seen as a logistical task within the education system. However, it represents one of the most powerful – and often underutilised – levers for systemic change in the food system. According to the World Health Organization, one in four European adolescents is overweight or obese. This reflects not only individual behaviour but also a food environment dominated by highly processed and low-nutrient products. For many children, school meals are one of the most reliable sources of nutritious food. 

At the same time, farmers are calling for fair incomes, and the climate crisis is pushing societies towards more sustainable food systems. School food programmes therefore operate at the intersection of public health, agriculture and climate policy. 

The SchoolFood4Change project demonstrates that change is possible. Over the past three years, project activities have reached nearly 4,000 schools in 22 European countries, impacting more than one million children. A key driver of this transformation is innovative public food procurement. 

By rethinking public procurement processes, SchoolFood4Change cities are already delivering healthier and more sustainable food to more than 3,200 schools. Cities and schools purchase large volumes of food for their canteens, and by embedding ambitious health, social and environmental standards into public tenders, they can ensure that nutritious and sustainably produced food reaches students’ plates. 

To support cities and public authorities in this transition, the project has developed practical guidance and knowledge tools, including the Handbook on Innovative Public Procurement of Healthy School Meals. The publication provides practical recommendations and examples for municipalities seeking to improve school food systems through strategic procurement. More information and the handbook are available here.