The Kazakh Armed Forces will soon implement buffet-style dining in military canteens, allowing soldiers to choose from multiple meal options.

According to the Defense Ministry, the new system introduces modern nutrition standards while maintaining the existing cost of rations. Soldiers will have daily access to several types of soups and main dishes, giving them the freedom to select meals that suit their preferences, The Caspian Post reports via Kazakh media.

Special attention has been paid to soldiers’ feedback. Anonymous surveys in military units helped adjust menu items while keeping ration norms intact.

“We are moving to a modern dining model focused on the real needs of soldiers rather than a formal approach. Buffet-style meals provide choice, variety, and improved nutrition without increasing costs,” said Almaz Jumakeev, Deputy Minister of Defense for Logistics and Military Infrastructure.

The ministry also plans to expand menus by including national dishes and higher-calorie options. Units have already started “National Cuisine Days” featuring traditional Kazakh meals such as mampar (a soup made from lamb and irregularly shaped homemade noodles), kuyrdak (the dish features chunks of meat often lamb or beef that are cooked together with onions, potatoes, and sometimes other vegetables and spices), plov (a hearty, one-pot Central Asian rice dish featuring tender meat-usually lamb or beef-sautéed with onions, carrots, and aromatic spices), Kazakh-style meat, and bauyrsak (a delicious puffy fried bread).

Improvements will extend to field conditions, with military chefs working alongside civilian suppliers on training grounds to ensure quality.

Additionally, the army’s catering system will transition to long-term contracts of up to three years and fully digital tender procedures, increasing transparency, reducing corruption risks, and stabilizing supplier operations.