Nutritious and healthy school lunch
Every day, students are provided with a free warm meal at school, planned according to the nutritional recommendations. School meals cover about third of daily nutritional need.
The basic food provided in schools is lactose-free. There is no need to inform the food services of a lactose-free diet.
School meal services are provided by Kaarea oy. Kaarea Oy also sells snacks in some schools in Turku.
Notification of special diets at school
Notification of special diets at school
Special diets are divided into health and conviction-based religious or ethical diets. If your child needs a special diet, their guardians should contact the school nurse at the beginning of the school year. If the diet is permanent, such as celiac, the guardian renews the statement only when changing schools.
A student can be assigned a special diet for health reasons on the basis of health such as a food allergy or hypersensitivity.
Lactose free diet: The food offered at schools is lactose free. You do not need to notify the schools about a lactose free diet.
Diabetes: The food offered at schools is suitable for those with diabetes. A student with diabetes can get an extra snack which is bread and milk. Notify us about the student’s diabetes by filling out a Notification form for special dietary needs
Special diets for health reasons like food allergies or sensitivities always require a statement from a doctor. In cases of very specific diets, you might need to give the school separate instructions from a doctor or a dietitian.
There are types of vegetarian options and diets without pork and/or beef special diets available.
Things to note about conviction based diets:
Pork: the student’s food can be made using either beef, chicken, or fish instead of pork or pork ingredients. Meat slaughtered in accordance with halal rules cannot be served by the food service.
Food containing blood: The school food services do not serve food containing blood or food with ingredients containing blood components.
Kosher: The food services are not able to prepare or serve food according to strict Jewish rules. If the student does not follow the rule on the use of dishes, the diet may be carried out as a lacto-ovo-vegetarian diet, or alternatively as a non-dairy diet without the forbidden animal products.
We offer those following a special diet nutritiously varied meals. Not all ingredients used in the home are provided if at least one nutritionally equivalent material from the food group is available.