Healthy Start Needs Analysis: Key Findings on Child Nutrition and Institutional Capacity
Between September and December 2025, a group of organisations from across the European Union and the Western Balkans—brought together by a shared interest in improving child nutrition and healthy lifestyle outcomes—conducted a joint cross-country needs analysis. The organisations involved include the Municipality of Lousada (PT), Youth Power Austria (AT), Lilium Digital (BA), Universum International College (XK), Centre for Health and Development Murska Sobota (SI), Secondary School for Catering and Tourism Radenci (SI), NGO Djeca Crne Gore (ME), ZENOS (BA), and Srednja stručna i tehnička škola Gradiška (BA).
The analysis combined policy review, statistical data, and practical insights from education, health, and VET systems to identify key challenges related to child nutrition and the capacity of institutions responsible for shaping children’s eating habits.
👉 Full Needs Analysis available here:
Key Needs Identified
Widespread unhealthy nutrition patterns among children
Across all participating countries, unhealthy dietary patterns are present from early childhood, including rising rates of overweight and obesity, alongside persistent micronutrient deficiencies. These challenges are particularly severe among vulnerable and marginalised groups, where both undernutrition and overnutrition coexist.
Insufficient nutrition competences within VET and professional education
There is a clear gap in vocational education and training systems when it comes to child nutrition. Pedagogical staff often lack practical knowledge and confidence to address nutrition topics, while culinary and food service training rarely includes structured content on age-appropriate nutrition, menu planning, or preventive approaches. This gap is evident across both EU and Western Balkan countries.
Low nutrition literacy and weak cooperation between families and institutions
Children’s eating habits are strongly influenced by family environments, yet the analysis highlights low levels of nutrition knowledge among parents and weak alignment between home and institutional practices. Even where schools and kindergartens implement structured nutrition approaches, these are often not reinforced at home, limiting long-term impact.
Lack of practical, digital and user-oriented tools
Institutions and professionals have limited access to practical tools that support the daily implementation of healthy nutrition practices. Existing policies and guidelines are rarely translated into user-friendly, operational resources. There is a particular lack of digital tools, ready-to-use materials, and practice-oriented learning solutions that can support both professionals and VET providers.
Limited implementation of existing policies and guidelines
Although policy frameworks addressing child nutrition and healthy lifestyles exist in most countries, their implementation at institutional level remains inconsistent. There is a gap between strategic commitments and everyday practice, with limited support mechanisms to ensure effective uptake in schools, kindergartens, and training systems.
Conclusion
The needs analysis highlights a consistent and interconnected set of challenges across countries. Child nutrition issues are not only a matter of individual behaviour but are closely linked to systemic gaps in education, training, institutional capacity, and family engagement.
Despite differences in national contexts, the findings point to a shared need for stronger alignment between policy, practice, and education systems. In particular, there is a clear need to strengthen competences within VET, improve coordination between institutions and families, and ensure that existing knowledge and guidelines are translated into practical, accessible solutions that can be applied in everyday settings.