Ice cream, chocolate, jelly, caramel, soft-boiled eggs, cold drinks, tea, and many other foods will no longer be served to children in Armenian kindergartens.

As child obesity rises in Armenia, the government has implemented a new diet for preschoolers, effective January 1, 2026.

The new rules set both general nutritional standards and specific eating schedules based on how long children are in school.

Under these guidelines, 45-65% of daily calories should come from carbohydrates, with added sugars making up no more than 10%. Fats should account for 30-40% of energy for children ages 1-3, and 25-35% for those ages 3-6; saturated fat should not exceed 10%. Proteins should be 5-20% for children 1-3 years old, and 10-30% for those 3-6 years old. Menu items must be planned for 10-12 days at a time.

Children attending full-time preschool should have 4-5 meals daily, with intervals between meals no longer than 3.5-4 hours for ages 3-6, and 2-3 hours for ages 1-2.

All preschoolers must receive at least two hot meals each day. Salt should not be made available for children to add to food at mealtimes, and seasonings are to be limited.

Caffeinated beverages, including tea, cream pastries, chocolate, and chocolate-covered products are banned. Only fruit-based desserts containing at least 50% fruit are permitted.

Top photo: Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport