Eating and learning together – recommendations for school meals

Published on March 7, 2022

These recommendations provide guidelines for the implementation of school cateringvand nutrition education at school. The recommendations are designed for providers of education and supporting activities, schools, persons in charge of school food services and pupil welfare, as well as for parents and carers, and the schoolchildren themselves. The recommendations cover guidelines for school meals as well as snacks provided in before and after school activities and extracurricular clubs at the school. The provision of school meals supports learning as well as the health and well-being of the pupils and the whole school community.

The recommendations have been drawn up to support the provider of education in implementing balanced, appropriately organised and supervised school meals. School meals are part of the curriculum as an activity that supports the goals of education. Adequate resources allocated by the provider of education as well as competent personnel ensure that school catering is implemented in accordance with regulations and recommendations. The monitoring and assessment of school catering is part of the larger measurement of health conditions at school and the health and well-being of the pupils, as well as the promotion of learning. The national nutrition recommendations issued by the National Nutrition Council are designed to promote the favourable development of nutrition and health in Finland. The National Nutrition Council recommends that these school catering recommendations for pre-primary and basic education also be used as learning material in vocational education, university education and continuing education. In schools, the recommendations provide a common means for the implementation and development of school meals and nutrition education.