What can we learn from Japan, and other countries, about school food?
Colette Fox, Public Food Lead at ProVeg International, attended the Global Child Nutrition Forum in Osaka, Japan in December last year. She joined four-hundred delegates from eighty countries. The theme centred around school food programmes in an era of food systems transformation, a familiar topic for ProVeg UK’s School Plates programme. This International School Food Day, we look at what we can learn from Japan.
Colette was lucky enough to join a local school for the day where she was able to learn more about the Japanese school lunchtime process and about the concept of Shokuiku.
(Short Read)
Here are three things Colette was inspired by:
- Children take the lead at lunchtime and are fully involved. There’s a rota where children take turns to be responsible for serving lunch to their classmates, and for cleaning up afterwards. Lunch isn’t something they simply attend, they are part of the process.
- Education and food go hand in hand, and lunch is a lesson in itself. Children are taught every day about the food they are eating, supporting their awareness of health and nutrition. This is part of a Japanese principle called Shokuiku that integrates nutrition education into the curriculum. We don’t yet have this level of nutrition education in UK schools, but our essential Canteen to Classroom and School Plates programmes are bridging the gap.
- Japanese school food is cooked fresh, processed foods are prohibited, and there is an expectation that the food, where possible, is locally sourced. It’s also predominantly plant-based.
Colette’s key takeaway from the trip, however, was how collaborative and organised lunchtime is. “While the children are taking responsibility for serving the lunch and clearing away, they’re learning to appreciate and respect the food, and to respect one another. Serving and providing for others instills a strong sense of community and connection over food.”
(Longer Read)
Lunchtime in Japan’s schools
“The Japanese food experience was absolutely breathtaking. All I can say is wow. The children were so welcoming, so polite. They talked us through all the food they like and asked us what we like to eat.”
“We got to see school food and how it works in action. It was an eye-opener. In all schools across Japan, the children take the lead at lunchtime and are responsible for serving and tidying. The only element that is adult-led is the cooking and preparation of the food. When lunchtime comes the kids get changed into hats and masks, following a rota system where a team of children will go in and bring out the pots of food, bowls, bits of food, cutlery, and take it into the classroom. They’re responsible for serving their classmates and know what size portions to give. They work like a well-oiled machine. What’s more, they’re continually learning. Lunch is one of their lessons.”
The lunchtime lesson, what is Shokuiku?
Shokuiku (食育), meaning ‘food nutrition and education’ is a Japanese principle. It’s a holistic approach to lunch. The aim is to prepare children with good judgement of health and nutrition. Schools are also encouraged to use local ingredients where possible to support local food systems.
Before lunch begins, the children are given a short two-minute presentation on nutrition, learning about what’s on the menu and the health and nutrition benefits. They’re being taught what they need in their diet to be healthy, and to be energised for learning. This lesson means children are incredibly knowledgeable about what they are eating and how it benefits them.
The children eat in their classroom, with those on lunchtime duty arranging the lunchtime service. Children bring a placemat and napkin from home to keep their workspace tidy.
There’s also no waste. The children eat every morsel they are served, understanding that food is fuel and will help to keep their bodies and minds healthy. If they are not feeling too hungry but have been served a rice portion that is too large, they will return some of their rice before they begin their meal. If they finish and are still hungry, they’re able to ask for more. But they will never leave any food behind. After all, food is precious and every bite has value!
Final thoughts
The conference was an incredible opportunity to learn together as a global collective about how we can improve school food. Thank you to the Global Child Nutrition Foundation for hosting such an inspiring and collaborative event.
One potentially negative observation from observing Japan’s school food programme in action was that allergies or dietary requirements are not taken into account. There is a single menu item daily and that’s what you are given, otherwise you must bring in your own food.
For more information on our School Plates and Canteen to Classroom programmes, visit our website.
