If you’ve ever tried packing a healthy lunch for a child, you know it’s a daily negotiation. Dubai clearly gets it, as the city has just rolled out a significant upgrade. Say hello to My School Food, a comprehensive nutrition initiative for students across the emirate. And honestly, it feels like the kind of move every parent has been waiting for.
Dubai’s New ‘My School Food’ Platform Wants Kids To Eat Smarter
Dubai Municipality has launched the ‘My School Food’ platform, a city-wide initiative designed to improve student meals and raise awareness around what kids actually eat during the school day.
A Smarter System For 400,000 Students
The programme arrives with impressive scale. We’re talking more than 400,000 students and 500+ schools, nurseries and universities, all falling under this new system. Even over 50 school food suppliers are part of the plan.
The platform was unveiled at the Dubai International Food Safety Conference. The ultimate goal of the platform is to provide nutrition, food safety and an evolving system supporting both.
Meet Ghalia, The AI Assistant With Real Answers
One of the standout features is Ghalia, an AI-powered assistant that gives instant, practical answers about food safety, balanced meals and waste reduction. The info is all based on municipality-approved data. Students, suppliers and schools get clarity instantly instead of going through rigorous manuals.
Clear Rules, Healthier Lunches
The new measures introduce standards for calories, portion sizes, and age-appropriate meal planning. Food labels must be clearer. Quantities must make sense. And the nutritional goals are exactly what you’d expect from a city pushing for healthier habits:
- More nutrient-dense meals
- Higher fibre
- Less sugar
- More water
- Monitored caffeine intake (yes, even teens need a limit)
Hygiene, allergy management, and safety protocols also sit at the core of the initiative. This is to make sure that school kitchens follow the same strict expectations set for restaurants.
Also Read: Dubai Plans To Make School Lunch Safer For Children, Here’s How!
Stronger Supply Chains & Faster Inspections
Dubai Municipality didn’t stop at lunch trays. It teamed up with Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza) to streamline compliance for food companies. This means faster clearance of food imports and smoother supply chains. This will basically result in fewer delays and fewer headaches for suppliers. Several new MoUs strengthen the sector further, covering sustainability, digital innovation and public-health protection.
Cover Image Courtesy: CanvaPro/Monkey Business Images
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