New Styrian study

Hardly any vegetables, lots of meat: school meals are inadequate

The eating habits at 217 Styrian all-day schools were examined.(Bild: Christian Jauschowetz)

Not everyone likes it: for the first time, a study on school meals has been carried out in Styria. There is still a lot of room for improvement, especially when it comes to the proportion of vegetables and organic food. At some educational institutions, there is only meat, meat and more meat from Monday to Friday.

Bernese sausages on Monday, minced roast on Tuesday, Wiener schnitzel on Wednesday, bratwurst on Thursday and pasta asciutta on Friday: the recently published study on school meals in Styria is not for the faint-hearted.

According to the study, there are actually quite a few schools where only meat dishes are served every day: "In some cases, we came across very traditional menus or combinations of liver dumpling soup with roast pork, for example," says project manager Lisa Bauer from the Styrian Health Fund.

Project manager Lisa Bauer from the Styrian Health Fund.(Bild: Foto Fischer)

Fresh vegetables as a rarity
Of the 351 eligible schools in Styria, 217 took part in the survey. Some of the results were sobering: "The minimum standards for communal catering stipulate, among other things, that a vegetarian dish should be offered two to three times a week. This is only the case in just over half of the schools surveyed," says Bauer. Incidentally, an urban-rural divide was not observed.

As far as the catering provider is concerned, the schools themselves often have little say. Decisions are usually made by the local authorities as school providers.

Lisa Bauer

The balance was even worse when it came to the proportion of fresh vegetables: Five times a week would actually be the recommended guideline here, but this is actually only met by eight percent of the educational establishments surveyed.

"Organic" is also hardly ever on the plate: "Organically produced products are advertised on the menus in four out of 24 schools. "There is great potential here," emphasizes Bauer.

Graz-Liebenau elementary school, for example, shows that things can be done differently.(Bild: Christian Jauschowetz)

Children plan their menu
A look into the dining hall of the Graz-Liebenau elementary school with its 210 children shows that things can be done differently. Here, 90 percent of the food is organic and fresh salads are served daily: "Variety is important to us and, of course, that the pupils like it. The children are involved in the choice of food, which is rotated on a class-by-class basis, and the young eaters like that alone," says Director Robert Hartinger.

The director is equally concerned about the surroundings: "We have nicely laid tables, napkins are a matter of course, we naturally take vegetarians into consideration, as well as children with intolerances. Nevertheless, sometimes something is left on the plate: "Despite all our efforts, it is of course impossible to satisfy the tastes of all the children every day".

Principal Robert Hartinger.(Bild: Christian Jauschowetz)

Incidentally, the Graz school got on the road to success with the support of nutrition experts. This is exactly where the province of Styria and the Health Fund want to start: From now on, a new funding campaign will help educational institutions to optimize their menus. Introductory workshops are offered, and it is also possible to finance material costs such as a raised vegetable bed.

You can find the study and the specific offers for schoolshere.