Get Ready to Spice Up Helsinki: Adding a Mediterranean Flair to Schools and Daycare Centers!
Schools and daycare centres within Palvelukeskus Helsinki’s meal service will have a Mediterranean food theme from Tuesday to Thursday, said the City of Helsinki in a press release on Monday.
The theme week introduces tastes from France, Italy and Greece to the plates of the pupils and daycare children in the form of familiar dishes.
The menu includes carbonara lasagnette, bouillabaisse fish soup, Greek-style chicken sticks, and spinach balls with a mint-flavoured yoghurt sauce.
The theme week is topped off by a chocolate and orange dessert, inspired by French chocolate mousse.
The salad buffet will also include items typical of Mediterranean cuisine, such as fresh vegetables, fruits, and olives.
‘When planning the theme weeks, we wanted to select dishes which children and young people like, while ensuring that our professional kitchens can prepare them within their budget. This also allowed us to challenge ourselves to transform the recipes of classic dishes to suit institutional kitchens. Luckily, the Mediterranean region is extensive, and offers many ideas to choose from,’ said Petteri Hautamaa, planner of Palvelukeskus Helsinki.
The annual country theme is one of the highlights of the Palvelukeskus Helsinki meal service. Dishes in each country theme are planned, tested, instructed, and eventually prepared for over 60,000 students and daycare children in about 500 locations.
‘The planning and implementation of the country themes takes a lot of work, but also provides a nice change of pace for the kitchen staff as well as the eaters. It is important for us to be able to offer all pupils and daycare children tastes from other cuisines. The food theme encourages many schools and daycare centres to find out more about the countries through other activities as well,’ Hautamaa said.
Source: www.dailyfinland.fi
As a parent, I think it’s fantastic to introduce diverse and delicious Mediterranean food options to school and daycare menus. It’s a great way to expand children’s palates and introduce them to new cultures through food.
I think this Mediterranean food theme at Helsinki’s schools and daycare centres is a fantastic idea! It’s a great way to introduce children to diverse flavors and cultures through their meals. Plus, the menu sounds delicious and nutritious, offering a good variety of dishes. Kudos to the planners for coming up with such a creative and educational initiative.
As a parent, I think this Mediterranean food theme in Helsinki schools and daycare centres is a fantastic idea! Introducing children to diverse and delicious cuisines at a young age can help broaden their palates and cultural understanding. I’m excited to see more initiatives like this in educational settings.
What a fantastic initiative by the City of Helsinki! Introducing Mediterranean flavors to children at schools and daycare centers is a great way to broaden their culinary horizons and expose them to different cultures. I’m sure the kids will enjoy the diverse menu and the creativity in adapting classic dishes for mass preparation. Kudos to Petteri Hautamaa and the team for their efforts in providing such a unique dining experience!
I think it’s a fantastic idea to introduce Mediterranean cuisine to schools and daycare centres in Helsinki. It’s a great way to expose children to new flavors and cultures while also ensuring they have a nutritious and diverse meal experience. Kudos to Petteri Hautamaa and the team for coming up with this creative initiative!
As a parent, I think this Mediterranean food theme in Helsinki schools is a fantastic idea! It’s great to introduce children to different cultures through food at a young age. Mediterranean cuisine is not only delicious but also nutritious, so it’s a win-win for everyone involved. Hoping this initiative will expand to more schools in the future!
As a parent, I am excited about this Mediterranean food theme in Helsinki schools and daycares. It’s a great way to introduce children to new flavors and cultures while still ensuring they enjoy their meals. Kudos to the City of Helsinki for this innovative approach!
It’s great to see Helsinki embracing Mediterranean cuisine in schools and daycare centers! Children deserve to experience a variety of flavors and dishes from different cultures. This initiative not only introduces them to new tastes but also educates them about diversity and inclusion.
Why are only Tuesday to Thursday covered with the Mediterranean food theme? Wouldn’t it be great to have it all week long for more variety?
Hi EmmaSmith123, the Mediterranean food theme is scheduled from Tuesday to Thursday to provide a concentrated experience of the flavors and dishes from France, Italy, and Greece during those specified days. This focused approach allows for a deeper exploration of the culinary traditions from the Mediterranean region within the school and daycare menus. It’s a way to introduce diversity while also catering to the preferences and tastes of the students and children. Perhaps in the future, there could be opportunities to extend the theme week or incorporate elements of Mediterranean cuisine throughout the entire week. Thank you for your interest and feedback!
I think it’s fantastic to see schools and daycare centers embracing a Mediterranean food theme! Exposure to different cuisines at a young age can help broaden children’s palates and encourage them to try new foods. It’s a great initiative to introduce tastes from France, Italy, and Greece through familiar dishes. Kudos to Palvelukeskus Helsinki for the creative menu and efforts to make it budget-friendly.
Are the children excited about trying these new Mediterranean dishes at school? Do they have any favorite dishes from the theme week menu so far?