The catering company hopes that the free breakfast supports the student’s alertness and learning. The school meal development program aims to bring a free snack to all schools.
Lahti is experimenting with offering free breakfast in a few schools. The experiment, which started on Monday, will last four months. Breakfast includes porridge and milk or water as a drink. If desired, you can add jam or sugar to the porridge.
According to the catering company, there are many reasons for offering breakfast.
– Very good. Refreshes you in the morning if you are a little tired.
Six schools are participating in the experiment, which was initiated by the council. During the first days, 8–40 students per school have attended morning porridge.
School meals are under pressure to change
According to Maarit Tuomala-Nikkanen, school meals must respond to the changes that occur during the school day.
– If the student’s school day starts at 10 o’clock and lunch is immediately at half past eleven, then many are not yet hungry. On the other hand, at the end of the school day, there is a need for a snack, when the days stretch into the afternoon.
Food culture has also changed.
– Food must be easy to eat, and many people eat school meals quickly. Dining is also a social event, and the service provider must think about what new dishes we offer.
The food service company is constantly negotiating with the customer, i.e. the city of Lahti, about the development of school meals. Schools currently offer a paid snack.
School food development work going on
A school food development program is currently being prepared under the leadership of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. The final report of the working group is due this fall.
Every school day, around 900,000 pupils receive free hot food, salad, bread and a food drink in accordance with the nutritional recommendations.
– There have been experiments with morning porridge in places other than Lahti. The students have generally liked the experiments, Kulomaa estimates.
He reminds that the development of catering is a continuous work in the municipalities.
The costs of Lahti’s porridge experiment range from a few thousand euros. After the experiences, it remains to be seen whether the experiment will become a permanent practice and whether it will expand.