School Foodservice in Finland Research on the Nutritional Goals of School Meals

2011

British Food Journal

Purpose -This paper seeks to construct and describe a nutritionally balanced school meal model for a comprehensive school. The aim of the model is to illustrate an holistic view to school meals based on the pupils' needs. Design/methodology/approach -The paper introduces Maslow's hierarchy of needs and eight theoretical views to school meals. The empirical data were collected in 2007 from the pupils (168), their parents (82) and the school officials (42) of four comprehensive schools in Finland by using a structured questionnaire which included open questions. Consequently, a description of a nutritionally balanced school meal model for a comprehensive school was constructed. Findings -A constructed model for serving school meals consists of the following views: pupil's needs; nutrition, food choice and waste views; well-being and energy; education; social-ecological environment and school meal environment, as well as maintaining good health and preventing health problems. The model is structured according to the theoretical views as well as suggestions from the pupils, parents, and experts. Also the subjects responsible for the activities are included. Practical implications -The constructed nutritionally balanced school meal model can be utilized as a standard model when serving school meals in a comprehensive school. Originality/value -The model may act as a reference model for the school catering organisations and the school officials when decisions related to school meals are made.

Section: Theoretical Approaches To School Mealsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nutritionally balanced school meal model for a comprehensive school

2011

British Food Journal

“…The nutritional view focuses on, for example, nutritional intake and its impact on height and weight (Adamson et al, 1992), as well as the intake of energy, nutrients and food (Crawley, 1993). Also, the nutritional goals of school meals are included (Tuomi-Nurmi and Immonen, 1981). Pupils from less affluent areas are more likely to choose dishes of limited nutritional value when compared to pupils from more privileged backgrounds (Gould et al, 2006).…”

Section: Theoretical Approaches To School Mealsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Free school meals, the plate model and food choices in Finland

Urho

2009

British Food Journal

Purpose -This paper aims to describe free school meals with respect to a plate model and to analyse how the meals were chosen by pupils at Finnish comprehensive schools. Design/methodology/approach -The paper reviews the history of the Finnish school catering system and free school meals. It also briefly analyses theoretical approaches to school meals and introduces a plate model based on national nutritional recommendations. The empirical data were collected in 2003 by the second author of this paper. In total, 3,041 pupils returned the questionnaire from ten comprehensive schools. Data from the pupils' school meal choices were analysed using one-way ANOVA and F-tests. Findings -The findings indicate that there were significant differences in the chosen school meals between boys and girls, between classes, and between schools. Thus, the plate model has not been followed when choosing the free school meals. Practical implications -This paper has, for example, the following implication: school meals should not be considered with respect to food only, but should be viewed from a broader perspective, namely that of pupils' needs and wants. Originality/value -School meals have previously been studied with multiple theoretical approaches. The authors believe that the broader focus on pupils and their socio-ecological environment will further increase understanding of their food choices in Finland.

“…Also, it focuses on the way breakfast is associated with a better performance in a test of verbal fluency (Wyon et al , 1997). Tuomi‐Nurmi and Immonen (1981) concluded that the lack of energy is not a problem in the diet of the Finnish children. Nutritionists should evaluate the importance of the energy value of school meals in terms of the well‐being.…”

Section: Pupils’ Needs Wants and Motivations Related To School Mealsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Maslow's hierarchy and pupils’ suggestions for developing school meals

Nutrition & Food Science

2009

PurposeMaslow's hierarchy of needs is little used in research when analysing pupils’ needs, wants, and motivations related to food. To fill that gap, the purpose of this paper is to introduce the pupils’ suggestions for developing school meals in Finland from the viewpoint of Maslow's hierarchy.Design/methodology/approachPrevious research on Maslow's hierarchy of needs, as well as pupils’ needs for school meals are briefly illustrated. The empirical qualitative data are collected from four comprehensive schools by using a sentence completion method.FindingsThe findings introduce pupils’ suggestions for developing school meals from the viewpoint of a plate model and its items linked with Maslow's hierarchy of needs. Most of the suggestions are related to physiological needs; i.e. main course, salad, milk and bread. Also other needs, such as safety needs, social needs, esteem needs, and self‐actualization needs receive suggestions.Practical implicationsThe practical implications are that the pupils have all the five levels of needs related to school meals which have to be taken into consideration when developing school meals within the curriculum.Originality/valueThe paper is useful for all those whose concern it is to develop school meals.