I think we can all agree: high-quality school meals are important. Not just for the health of children, but also for the health of our planet. There is a lot to do for this.
“Every bite counts – for our health, the climate, our animals and the environment!” says a press release from the Ministry of Food. You can't learn that early enough. That is why Minister Cem Özedemir invites all students in grades 3 to 10 to the school competition “Echt kuh‑l!” Children and young people should submit videos, songs, works of art, social media channels or websites and answer the following questions, for example: What can be done in the cafeteria to integrate organic food? And how can you reduce food waste? So why not bring together students, caterers, food suppliers, cooks and school cafeteria serving staff and think about how things can be better?
Improving school meals is the job of the state, not the students
In itself, it's a great thing to introduce children to sustainable nutrition, to involve them in the selection of their school meals and to familiarize them with sustainable farming methods. But leaving initiatives for better school meals to the students is a bit small for me. The state has a duty of care towards the people it educates in state schools. That also includes the food.
School meals are a complex matter
Many actors and topics have to be taken into account: private caterers, canteen staff, who are often still inadequately trained for the new challenges. Price pressure, public tender regulations, insufficient availability of organic food, parents' wishes, time pressure when eating in unappealing, noisy dining rooms. Children and young people cannot change all of this on their own.
However, neither does the Federal Ministry. Because school meals are a state matter. So what does the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture ultimately do with the submitted songs, films, games, project days and exhibition exhibits? We will be curious to see what will happen due to the lack of responsibility.
A scientific report from the BMEL consultants suggested free school meals as early as 2020
Instead of organizing a competition, the Federal Ministry should get involved and get creative. For example, it could consider how it can provide the states with the necessary funds to make school meals free for all children. Just as it has long been done in other countries, such as Sweden and Norway. Free school meals are available Scientific Advisory Board for Agricultural Policy, Nutrition and Health Consumer Protection (WBAE) already proposed in its report “Policy for a more sustainable diet” in 2020. This would alleviate the economic pressure on caterers in times of rising prices. There would be planning security for healthy and sustainable food. And if school meals are free for everyone, it will not be discredited as feeding the poor.
The BMEL could also implement the very specific suggestions of the WBAE report. For example the investment program Top cafeteria hang up. Or provide financial support to countries to equip daycare centers and schools with kitchens and dining rooms. The BMEL could do that too Scientific implementation and evaluation program (HOW) which checks the quality of the food and the nutritional environment. It would be the basis for high-quality, contribution-free school meals.
Why school meals are so important
School meals are an important educational element because dealing with food and the topic of “sustainable nutrition” makes it tangible every day. Children who eat healthily are proven to be able to concentrate better in school and achieve better grades. High-quality school meals counteract nutritional poverty among children, support integration through shared meals and provide lasting relief to health systems. By the way, not a single EU country is currently on track to achieve its targets for reducing obesity among young people. A healthy diet prevents obesity.
Also High-quality, sustainable school meals have a major impact on the environment and climate. The way we eat has a gigantic impact on our livelihood. Our global food systems are the greatest threat to our nature. They contribute significantly to climate change and species extinction. A third of global greenhouse gas emissions, 80 percent of deforestation and 70 percent of biodiversity loss come from the food we eat. Eating habits and farming methods are the key to a future worth living. And where to start if not in social learning spaces such as schools and daycare centers?
SchoolFood4Change brings all stakeholders together at one table
Sustainable, healthy and delicious school food – this is also what the EU-funded SchoolFood4Change project is dedicated to (SF4C). Together with 42 partner organizations in twelve countries, WWF-Germany is using this project to shape the school meals of tomorrow in the context of the EU Farm to Fork Strategy. Around 600,000 students benefit from this, passing their knowledge on to their families. SchoolFood4Change turns schools into places where healthy and sustainable eating culture is established. Nutrition education can thus be experienced, for example in partnerships between schools and farms. The training courses are also aimed at chefs, caterers and municipal procurement employees. SchoolFood4Change thus initiates transformation on a large scale.
Every bite counts for a delicious morning
Specifically, this means, for example: SF4C With a recipe book for school kitchens along the Planetary Health Diets, we promote diets that protect the health of people and the planet in equal measure. More vegetables, legumes and nuts. Less meat. A catalog of criteria supports municipal procurement employees in tenders for sustainable and delicious school meals. The Whole School Food Approach, a guide for municipalities and schools, brings together all stakeholders who have something to say about school meals.
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