Swedish School Serves Herring Tacos and Seaweed Lunch
A Gothenburg school serves herring tacos and seaweed lunches to promote sustainable eating. The week-long fish menu is part of a four-year EU project to develop healthier food habits. School officials acknowledge some dishes will challenge young palates.
Students at Lövgärdesskolan in Gothenburg will eat herring tacos and seaweed for lunch this week. The school aims to serve more sustainable meals while helping children appreciate different fish dishes. This initiative is part of a broader push toward sustainable food habits in Swedish schools.
The project has been running for four years across Gothenburg. It specifically targets increasing student interest in seafood. Teachers, experts, and school chefs from Gothenburg and Skövde municipalities gathered last year to test recipes using fish, shellfish, and seaweed.
Next week marks a new phase at Lövgärdesskolan. Students will eat fish every day for five days. The menu includes more challenging dishes like fish lasagna and bouillabaisse.
Therese Petersson, meal unit manager for northeast Gothenburg, acknowledged the difficulties. She said some dishes will test students' palates more than others.
This effort connects to Switch, a European Union project promoting sustainable and healthy eating habits. Switch launched in January 2023 and involves eight countries. It will run for four years.
Six locations across participating countries host Food Hubs. These hubs bring together consumers, food producers, and community stakeholders. Together they develop new sustainable food options. Gothenburg hosts one such hub.
Schools face practical challenges when introducing unfamiliar foods to children. Getting students to accept sustainable but unusual ingredients requires careful planning and persistence.