Food at schools around the Europe

1. Food at schoolsaroundtheEurope Madeby: OŠ J. Hudalesa Jurovski Dol, Slovenia

2. Curiousity Werenovatedourschool last yearandwegota new, modern kitchen. Ourcooks are veryniceandprepare us deliciousmeals – nowwewanted to knowifpupils in Europe do havethe same privileges as we do? Or do theyperhapseveneatforfree?

3. Westartedfromnothing Wedidn't reallyknowhow is it withfood in otherschoolsandwereverysurprised to gettheresultswedid. As ourEnglishteacherwent to Norway last year, shetold us aboutthefoodthere – pupilshad to bringtheirownfoodfrom home – althoughtheircountry is veryrich. Welikedtheirsmallcolourfulplasticcontainersforverydifferentkindsoffoodbutdidn't knowwhat to expect to learn in thisproject.

4. Whatabouttheresults? Welearntthatourcoevalsfromfiveschoolswecooperatedwithdon't haveeither a kitchen or a canteenandthereforehave to bringtheirownfood to school (REYCP 1, REYCP 3 – if not satisfiedwiththefood at school, RYCP5, REYCP 7, REYCP 9).AlthoughREYCP 6hasn't answeredtheirquestionsyet, weassumedthattheybringthefoodfrom home, too – like theothertwoNetherlands' schools. Thosepupils are satisfiedwithfood, ofcourse, becausetheyprobablypreparefoodthemselves or theirparentsprepare it according to theirwishes. Theotherpupils (thosewhogetfoodfromschool – pay it or forfree) are alsomostlysatisfiedwiththeirfood, pupils in REYCP 8 don't like soups.

5. In otherschools, however, pupilsdon't haveto bringtheirfood to school – theyeitherget it allforfree (REYCP 8) becauselocalgovernmentpaysfor it, getdairyproductsandbreadforfreeandbuytheotherfoodif not satisfiedwiththis (REYCP 1), or have to payfortheirmeals at school (REYCP3, REYCP 4, REYCP 10 andourschool – REYCP 2). REYCP 4 getsjuiceforfree – theyjustneed a glassthemselves.

6. To make or not to make suggestions Fromsixschoolswherepupilsdon't have to bringtheirownfood to schoolbutcooksprepareit, five are allowed to make suggestionsaboutthemenus, but not always – theanswersweresometimes, once a year; yes, butseldomaccepted; ifthey are healthy.

7. Healthy or unhealthy? Schoolstake carethatpupilseathealthyfoodandthoseschoolswherepupilsbringtheirfoodfrom home havespecialruleswhat is allowed to bebroughtandwhatisn't – sweets are usuallyforbidden, applejuiceinsteadof cola, wholemealbreadifpossible …

8. There are some exceptions, ofcourse – if one ofthepupilshasbirthday, he or shecanbringsweetsfrom home to treatschoolmates. Pupilslike bothkindsoffood – thehalfofaskedlikeshealthyandtheotherhalflikesboth – healthyandunhealthy (steaks, chips …).

9. Problems, diseases? Allschoolsthatbringtheirfoodfromhome haveto bring 'specialdiets' from home, too. In schoolswherecooksprepareordinarymeals 'specialdiets' are preparedbycooks, too. In theEstonianandtheRomanianschoolwherepupilsgetmealsforfreecooksdon't cookforpupilswith some diseases – theyhave to bringtheirownfoodfrom home.

10. Differencesbetweencountries NetherlandsandGreece – bringfoodfrom home SloveniaandLatvia – payformeals Estonia, Romania – foodforfree

11. Why do theyexist? Andconsequences? Differenciesexistbecauseofdifferentrules in governments; some ofthemprovidemoneyforfood at schoolsand some don't. Consequences: Prosandconsforbringing or not bringingfood to school:

12. Questionsandanswers