Abu Dhabi Schools Ban Food Deliveries as Part of New Nutrition Policy 

Key Points :

ADEK bans outside food delivery to schools in a bid to bar unhealthy consumption.

New school year (from Aug 25, 2025) involves more stringent nutrition standards.

Nearly 44% of students still carry around unhealthy foods that lead to obesity and diabetes complications.

Key Background:

Before the 2025-26 school year, Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) introduced new food guidelines to promote healthier students. Taking the lead is prohibiting delivery of foods transported into schools from outside school hours, an easy measure to eliminate rising fast food and other calorie-dense meal dependency.

Already, the schools have already sent out a notice to parents summing up the new policy. The notices also mention the importance of nutrition towards learning as healthy food helps children focus, improves memory, and keeps them energized throughout the day at school. Sufficient nutrition also plays a vital role in keeping emotional stability and resilience against learning stress.

The advice is especially against the inexpensive foods such as crisps, fizzy drinks, and highly processed takeaway meals. The food, as cheap for children as it is, contains more in fats and sugars but fewer in vitamins and minerals. To counter the above, parents have been advised by schools to prepare food in safe, packaged amounts that allow for portion balance and for food to store.

School and study reports suggest that about 44% of children regularly pack unhealthy foods in their lunchboxes on a routine basis. There is a one-to-one relationship between the practice and increasing prevalence of child obesity and lifestyle diseases such as type 2 diabetes. Authorities demonstrate that, if taken care of in initial years, it is crucial to avoiding long-term health effects.

Nutritionists recommend that while schools can implement regulations, the parents' role is the most critical. Parents can make better standards by preparing healthy food at home and reducing the consumption of processed food. Increasing the amount of fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins is also strongly recommended so that children receive the right nutrients.

The new ADEK policies are not just about restricting unhealthy conduct but also about developing an attitude culture and health. With the implementation of policies, education, and social action, the program seeks to incorporate healthy eating habits among the students so that they do not just excel academically but also grow up to be healthy individuals in the long term.

About the Author

Mia Jones

Mia Jones is a Managing Editor at Education Excellence Magazine.