On Tuesday, a proposal was made in Östersund to serve a set meal every day to school students. The motion was submitted by the Moderates, the Christian Democrats, and the Sweden Democrats in the municipality. The idea originated from Kilbergsskolan in Bollnäs, where they have been testing the concept of serving a fixed dish every day and have found success.
M politician Joel Nordkvist expressed his interest in the concept, stating, “We saw that Kilbergsskolan tested serving a fixed dish every day and that they were successful, so we thought that sounded interesting.” According to the proposal, one or more schools in Östersund will be allowed to test having a fixed dish on the menu. Nordkvist mentioned that the dish could vary from meatballs with macaroni to sausages and macaroni, or any other dish that is popular among students. He clarified that it would be a fixed option alongside the regular menu, rather than the same dish every day.
The objective of the proposal, according to Nordkvist, is to improve school results by ensuring that all students eat a fulfilling lunch and can concentrate better throughout the day. However, not everyone agrees with the proposal. Liselotte Schäfer Elinder, a professor of public health sciences at the Karolinska Institutet, is critical and believes that it is important for children to eat varied food.
Schäfer Elinder emphasized the importance of children consuming vegetables and whole grains to avoid nutritional deficiencies. She stated, “Children who do not have an illness must eat a varied diet and should stick to that as a school meal.” Schäfer Elinder also pointed out that the School Act requires school meals to be nutritious, providing approximately 30 percent of the daily requirement of energy and nutrition. Most schools currently offer two different meals to choose from each day.
The responsibility of ensuring a varied diet falls on both the school and the parents. Schäfer Elinder suggested that instead of serving the same lunch every day, schools should discuss with the children why it is important to have a diverse range of food options. She stated, “In general, it’s not a good idea, you can think you’re taking care of the children, but you’re not doing them any favors either in the long or short term.”
Overall, the proposal to serve a set meal every day to school students in Östersund has sparked a debate regarding the benefits and drawbacks of such an approach. While some believe it could lead to better school results and concentration, others argue for the importance of a varied and nutritious diet. The decision on whether to implement the proposal will ultimately rest with the municipality.