Mechelen (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Mechelen offers healthy breakfast carts in 20 primary schools. Education Councillor Sabe De Graf plans citywide access by 2026, providing nutritious food to support students’ daily energy, focus, and health.
As VRT News reported, Mechelen is promoting healthy breakfasts in primary schools with a new breakfast cart program. The city started the initiative, which now operates in 12 schools and will expand to 20 by the end of the year.
“It took the students a little while to get used to it at first, but now they’re eager to use it. Right now, the fruit is even more popular than the cereal bars,”
says principal Van Aerschot.
What are Mechelen’s plans for Breakfast carts in 20 schools by 2026?
De Puzzel Primary School provides an example of the program’s benefits. The school has had a breakfast cart for a full year. Students can choose from a variety of healthy options at any time. Staff say the service is important because children are often hungry by the end of the day.
“It is reassuring for teachers and parents that students can take a healthy snack, such as a banana, whenever they need it,”
a staff member said.
“Even in privileged families, there is sometimes no time to have breakfast.”
Saskia Van Aerschot, director of GO! Primary school De Puzzel
The breakfast carts in Mechelen are available for all students.
“Unfortunately, we have many children who arrive at school hungry. However, there are also privileged families who have little time for breakfast in the morning. The breakfast cart is there for them too,”
a school spokesperson said.
Van Aerschot said,
“All studies show that academic performance declines when students are hungry.”
By 2026, Education Councillor Sabe De Graf (Vooruit) wants every primary school child in Mechelen to receive a healthy and varied breakfast each day.
“Next year, our goal is that all students have access to nutritious options every morning,”
De Graf explained.
“The project will be funded by the Flemish government and the city of Mechelen,”
says De Graf.
Mechelen started its breakfast cart initiative in September 2022 as a pilot project in selected elementary schools. The purpose of the project was to address student food insecurity and to promote nutritious eating among students.
By the end of December 2025, approximately 20 schools were utilising the breakfast cart initiative, providing children with access to nutritious food seven days a week. In anticipation of this, the city plans to expand the breakfast cart program to even more schools in 2026.
