As a school canteen chef, your mission is to feed children and introduce them to new flavors. You must also consider the necessity of protein sources and the presence of as many colorful, healthy, diverse, and seasonal dishes as possible on the menu. The result should satisfy everyone.
Which are children’s favorite school meals and how healthy are these “favorite foods”?
Starchy foods (potatoes/fries, pasta, rice)
Yogurts
Bread (used as a substitute in 68% of cases when children don’t like the main dish or it’s not enough)
Dairy desserts/ice cream
Baked goods (croissants, sweets, etc.)
Fresh fruit
Meat dishes
Raw vegetables (carrots, cucumbers, beetroot, etc.)
Cheese
Mixed salads
The least popular foods are cooked vegetables, fish, and vegetarian dishes. “Favorite foods” do not always mean healthy.
For children, the canteen is primarily a place for communication. They meet friends here, which is why they like this space. As for the dishes, this can be one of the main reasons they don’t want to be there. This calls into question the quality of the food provided.
Furthermore, parents believe their child does not eat enough in the canteen because they dislike the dishes offered there, which the children themselves confirm.
School canteens must play a vital role in raising awareness about healthy food and addressing various challenges:
Health: Knowing that 4% of children and 17% of adolescents are overweight, the nutritional value of offered meals is of paramount importance.
Social Responsibility: The canteen should offer balanced and diverse food at an affordable price.
Food: Canteens are a means of selling organic, high-quality, local, short-chain products.
School canteens have a duty to become places where both eating and breaks are pleasant. For parents, the most important issues are food diversity and nutritional balance. They consider the canteen a true school that allows their child to discover new culinary horizons.
In this regard, we offer you some advice:
26% of children eat all the food provided to them, but the issue still remains questionable depending on the type of food and how it’s prepared.
25% of children feel they are not given enough food, which explains the widespread use of bread as a food substitute.
Each child, according to their age group, has different nutritional needs. This must be taken into account, and everyone should be offered a balanced diet. For example, one of the main problems today is sugar intake. Therefore, this should be adjusted to age groups: 60 grams per day for ages 4-7, and 100 grams per day for ages 8-17.
With bread consumption, we face two main problems: excessive sugar and gluten. Foods consumed daily can have contraindications. Canteens should be able to offer bread made from wheat with less gluten, and therefore much easier for the body to digest.
With spices and garnishes, you can make vegetables and fish a more desirable meal. Offer oven-roasted vegetables or cauliflower steaks.
In addition to nutritional value, sufficient time for eating is important. A child should be able to eat without pressure. Food consumed under stress is poorly absorbed by the body. Often, a lack of time is the criterion that prevents children from feeling full.
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