The modernization of school cafeterias in Nizhny Novgorod has been completed.

      15:56, August 26, 2025

      [355]

      Society

      In Nizhny Novgorod, a program to renovate the cafeterias and food preparation units of municipal schools has been completed. More than 600 million rubles were allocated for these purposes, Mayor Yuri Shalabaev reported after an inspection of Sormovo School No. 183 and Gymnasium No. 184 in the Leninsky District.

      The tour included the heads of the Sormovsky and Leninsky districts, Svetlana Gorbunova and Sergey Lukoyanov, Deputy Mayor Leonid Streltsov, acting director of the Department of Education Marina Gladysheva, as well as city Duma deputies.

      Shalabaev emphasized that over three years of the project’s implementation they managed to do what had long been avoided before.

      "Why didn’t they take it on before? Because there was a food unit – you can cook, children eat. But improvements require a lot of money. Nevertheless, nutrition is a very important component of children’s health, so it must be prepared in appropriate conditions and on modern equipment. And children should eat in normal conditions. That is why I made the decision to modernize all food units and cafeterias over three years," the mayor noted.

      The city head added that an individual approach was applied in each school: in some places they replaced furniture and equipment, in others – communications. In addition, a unified design code for decorating school cafeterias was developed.

      "Now you can go into any food unit, take a look, and anyone will understand that a lot of work has been done on the renovations. I think it turned out well," Shalabaev said.

      He separately thanked Vladimir Pavlovich Radchenko, the former director of the Department of Education, calling him one of the project’s initiators.

      The director of School No. 183, Irina Goryachkina, reported that work was carried out in both buildings and the cafeterias have become unrecognizable. "The walls and floors have been completely renovated, tiles have been laid. Water supply systems and new ventilation have been installed. A new automatic fire alarm system has been installed. Equipment and tableware have been purchased," she said.

      According to her, the interior was complemented with curtains and elements emphasizing the theme of healthy eating.

      The city administration’s press service clarified that in Gymnasium No. 184 the dining hall was renovated for the first time since 2008, and the food unit had never been updated. School director Olga Zyablova said that the floor, walls and ceiling were repaired and new furniture purchased.

      "The food unit was completely renovated. New technological equipment was purchased: a combi oven, an electric stove, electronic scales, washing sinks," she noted.

      According to deputy of the Nizhny Novgorod City Duma Yuri Erofeyev, the work carried out shows how accessible the cafeteria has become for the students of School No. 183. "Now the kitchen has new modern equipment, ventilation, an extractor hood, refrigeration equipment, tableware. This is a very high level for school catering. I think the kids who come here on September 1 will feel the changes themselves: their mood will improve, and they will study significantly better."

      As City Duma deputy Tatiana Druzhinina noted, quality nutrition for children is a priority area for the work of deputies at all levels. "We monitor school meals throughout the year and, of course, technical equipment plays an important role here. I am confident that the update will be appreciated not only by the children, but parents will also know that tasty and quality food will be prepared here for their kids. And our pupils will be even more willing to go to the school cafeteria," the deputy emphasized.

      According to Shalabaev, the next step is updating food units in kindergartens.

      "There are more than 300 of them in the city, so it will take more time to implement the project. I have tasked the Department of Education and the relevant deputy, Leonid Streltsov, with developing a five-year program to modernize food units in kindergartens. It is financially quite costly. We will find the funds because this program is needed," the mayor stressed.

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