Favourites from different decades served during the 75 Years of School Meals Celebration

“Healthy food is essential for well-being and learning. I hope that our children and young people will appreciate the opportunity for a shared daily lunch break”, says Harri Rinta-aho, Deputy Mayor for Growth and Learning. “It would be good if children and young people ate a daily meal at daycares, comprehensive schools and upper secondary schools”, he continues.

Free school meals have contributed to laying the groundwork for the equal growth and development of students and promoting healthy eating habits. School meals that are free of charge and based on dietary recommendations are still a point of pride in Finland, with visitors coming from all over the world to learn more about the system.

In addition, meals at schools and daycare centres always serve an educational purpose: it is also good to learn to taste new flavours and dishes. In Espoo’s schools, students have many opportunities to influence meal planning. Learn more about developing school meals and reducing food waste.    

What was the Mayor's favourite meal at school?

In a video filmed to celebrate 75 years of school meals, Espoo’s Mayor Jukka Mäkelä describes his favourite school meal.(external link, opens in a new window)

The video has closed captions in Finnish, Swedish and English. You can turn on the subtitles by clicking the settings icon.

Visit this website to learn more about the history of school meals in Finland.

To celebrate school meals, meal service providers are serving favourite foods from different decades (content of links in Finnish):

Espoo Catering:

https://aromimenu.cgisaas.fi/EspooAromieMenus/FI/Default/ESPOO(external link, opens in a new window)

During the celebratory week, Espoo Catering is also organising a Best of the Best vote in schools and upper secondary schools to determine favourite foods.  

Palmia:

https://ruoka.palmia.fi/fi/ravintola/kouluhaku/?city=espoo&school=school(external link, opens in a new window)

Compass Group Oy:

Espoon yhteislyseo Upper Secondary School and Tiistilä Secondary School https://www.compass-group.fi/ravintolat-ja-ruokalistat/amica/kaupungit/espoo/kutojan-lukio/(external link, opens in a new window)

Otaniemi Upper Secondary School https://www.compass-group.fi/ravintolat-ja-ruokalistat/amica/kaupungit/espoo/espoon-tietokyla/(external link, opens in a new window)

Leppävaara Upper Secondary School https://www.compass-group.fi/ravintolat-ja-ruokalistat/foodco/kaupungit/espoo/metropolia/(external link, opens in a new window)

Kuninkaantie Upper Secondary School https://www.sodexo.fi/ravintolat/espoo/kaivomestari(external link, opens in a new window)