New Menu Sekolah Singapura 2026 Focuses On Balanced Nutrition, Not Just Kenyang

Illustration of nutritious eating in Singapore. (Freepic)

JAKARTA Starting in 2026, students in 13 schools in Singapore will enjoy a new eating system called the Model Dapur Sentral or central kitchen model. Through this system, each school will have one main catering provider who prepares nutritious food directly for students.

This step is an innovation from the Ministry of Education of Singapore (MOE) to overcome the shortcomings of canteen booth managers while ensuring that every student gets healthy, delicious, and affordable food.

A total of three major catering companies were appointed to run the program, namely Chang Cheng Holdings,Gourmetz,andWilmar.

Chang Cheng Holdings, known through the Chang Cheng Mee Wahak coffee shop network, will manage five schools. Gourmetz and Wilmar manage several other schools each. Food prices are also regulated by MOE, ranging from US $ 1.80 to less than US $ 4 (IDR 29 thousand - IDR 66 thousand) per serving.

"We have prepared all the food according to the nutrition guidelines from the Health Promotion Board, without fried foods and using selected ingredients such as whole wheat rice," said Hawk Kian Siong, Chief Operating Officer Chang Cheng Holdings, quoted from the page of The Straits Times.

Chang Cheng and Gourmetz implement a digital ordering system. Parents can choose and order food for their children through applications such as AmiaApp (Chang Cheng) andGOe Meals (Gourmetz).

Orders were made at least 18 hours earlier, and food was cooked 6 hours before being sent to school. Upon arrival at school, food is stored in a smart food locker, which students can pick up using an ez-link card.

"Children just tap their cards, and the food ordered will come straight out of the lockers. Practically and hygienically," explained representative Chang Cheng.

For students who forget to order, there are still additionalbento, snacks, and dim sumdi school drink booths. Until some schools also provide automatic food ready-to-eat seller machines.

In this program, each provider presents a variety of menus so that children don't get bored. Chang Cheng offers 13 daily menu options, including 9 halal menus and 3 vegetarian menus that will rotate every week.

Some of the menus include:

- Sup for bihun fish meatballs

- Spaghetti Bolognese chicken

- Sweet acid chicken with rice

- Grilled tikka chicken rice

- Chicken favored with rice

- Japanese-style chicken Curry

Kranji Elementary School student, Emma Rose Muhamad Fyruz admitted that she was enthusiastic about waiting for this new program.

So far, my lunch has only been fried. Now the menu is many and healthier," he said happily.

Meanwhile, Brent Go, a grade 2 elementary school student, admitted that he began to like vegetables thanks to the special sauce in his new bento

"The retail is really good. Because there is sauce, so I want to eat vegetables," he said.

Wilmar, one of the catering providers, added that the central kitchen system allows them to ensure consistency and quality of food in all schools.

"With centralized production, we can maintain reliability, nutrition, and prices that remain affordable for all students," explained Wilmar's representative.

At Wilmar's live station, there will be a menu such as mixing with side dishes changing every week. Starting from Asian to Western cuisine.

This program has received a positive response from students who tasted the trial menu.

"This is the first time I've eaten this much," said QUek Ik Tse, a 4th grade student at SD Kranji, after trying out Chang Cheng's bento.

This policy is expected not only to help maintain the nutrition of elementary school children, but also to foster healthy eating habits from an early age.