In its updated guidelines for school meals, the Swedish National Food Agency highlights the problem of teenagers in particular skipping school lunch.
Those who eat school lunch perform better, can concentrate better and also feel better. Schools really have everything to gain from providing school meals that students want to eat, says nutritionist Emelie Elin at the Swedish National Food Agency.
Mess and stress
It is not the food itself that students have difficulty with. Instead, it is the stress and chaos in the dining hall that they choose to avoid. But time pressure and hustle and bustle can be prevented. Let students sit at the dining table for at least 25 minutes, advises the Swedish National Food Agency. The previous guidelines said 20 minutes, but research suggests that five more minutes leads students to eat more, including fruit, vegetables and whole grains.
It may seem a bit petty to ask for five more minutes, but we know that many schools don't even manage to provide at least 20 minutes at the table. Students also have to have time to queue, change and clear their dishes in that time. Therefore, a review of the entire schedule is needed so that students have the opportunity to eat in peace and quiet and have time to talk to friends, says Emelie Elin.
On schedule
Another step to reduce stress can be to schedule lunches so that the class and teacher eat together during class time. The idea is not to force anyone to eat, but it increases the chance that hesitant students will at least try it. The idea is also not to disrupt teaching, but to ensure that all classes get enough lunch time and avoid queues and lack of seats.
Queues increase the risk that students will go somewhere else, such as to fast-food restaurants, notes Emelie Elin.
Unique
The Swedish National Food Agency also advises schools to review the offerings in their own cafeterias together with the students, and ideally achieve a slightly heartier and healthier selection.
If only adults decide, there is a risk that young people will buy unnecessary things elsewhere.
Emelie Elin points out that what Swedish schools offer is unique.
All students receive free and nutritious meals. Two courses and a large salad buffet are often offered. Students have a lot to choose from, including things they might not get at home. So when students don't have time, or don't want to eat because of noise and chaos, the effective public health tool that we actually have is not being used.
Free school lunches were introduced in Sweden in the 1940s. The aim was to compensate for the diets children otherwise received, which lacked vitamins and minerals.
The obligation to serve free lunch to students in primary school was first established in the 1997 Education Act.
Nowadays, school lunch in Swedish schools consists of at least one main dish, a salad buffet, bread and cold cuts, and milk or water.
Sources: Swedish National Food Agency and NE
