Varied school meals support children’s learning and wellbeing. School lunch accounts for about a third of a student’s daily nutritional needs.

Kaarea supplies meals to schools and daycare centres in Turku, and Pargas. We follow a five-week rotating menu, which is planned in line with nutritional guidelines and service agreements.

Schools in Turku have a vegetarian food day once a week, and a vegetarian option is also available daily. We use domestic ingredients whenever possible. Our domestic content rate in Turku schools and daycare centres for the period July–December 2024 was 80%.

A typical school lunch includes:

• Main course with side dishes
• Salad or grated vegetables with dressing (except on soup days)
• Crispbread with spread, soft bread on specified days
• Beverage: skimmed milk, buttermilk, or water

A school lunch designed according to the plate model provides nutrients that support a child’s growth, development, and learning. A balanced diet fosters healthy eating habits and supports overall wellbeing, both during the school day and in the long term.