Optimising school meals in Ghana: integrating new food and nutrient standards with aspects of affordability, cultural acceptability and environmental sustainability.

OBJECTIVES

To optimise school food baskets in Ghana to meet newly proposed food and nutrition targets while considering cultural acceptability and cost.

DESIGN

This was a modelling study. Data on existing school meal menus were collected from various regions to provide baseline inputs. Linear programming (LP) was used to model school meal baskets that satisfied minimum nutrient and food targets for school meals while meeting cost and acceptability constraints. Five LP models were tested, each varying in budget constraints and acceptability/food-based parameters.

SETTING

Ghana.

PARTICIPANTS

NA.

RESULTS

Baseline school food baskets were significantly deficient in energy, protein, Fe, Zn, vitamin A, folate, vitamin B12 and vitamin C compared to food and nutrient standards for school meals in Ghana. Optimisation resulted in school food baskets that met cost, nutrient and food-based/acceptability targets but with substantial deviations from baseline. Achieving nutritional adequacy within cost limits increased reliance on animal-source foods and led to higher environmental impacts, indicating trade-offs between nutrition, affordability and environmental sustainability.

CONCLUSION

The study underscores LP's potential for enhancing school meals in Ghana but highlights the need for increased financial investment for reaching dietary goals. Addressing local realities and cultural preferences is essential for implementing effective, sustainable school meal strategies and improving child health.