Numerous schools and kindergartens in Estonia are now providing exclusively vegetarian meals for students one day a week, with the goal of increasing the share of vegetables in school

lunches. Although the Ministry of Education and Research and the Ministry of Social Affairs do not have exact data on how many institutions are offering vegetarian menus, the Vegetarian Tuesday project, supported by animal welfare NGO Invisible Animals, has reported that 179 schools and kindergartens have joined the initiative.

These establishments may be providing vegetarian meals either exclusively on Vegetarian Tuesday or as an alternative on their regular menus.

The Ministry of Social Affairs has stated that vegetarian food days are not mandatory in Estonian schools, but offering such options is encouraged. The regulation for school and kindergarten menus includes requirements for meat quantities, with specific recommendations for both red meat and poultry. Fish is also encouraged, with fish dishes required to be offered at least once a week. Photo by EU2017EE Estonian Presidency, Wikimedia commons.