Meet Students and teachers of the adam-Kraft Secondary school in Nuremberg, Germany!
Each SchoolFood4Change city and region collaborates with schools in the municipal area to implement the Whole School Food Approach. So, what role does SchoolFood4Change play in everyday school life schools? And what are the perceptions and opinions of pupils and teachers about #schoolfood in the SchoolFood4Change partner schools? We interviewed students from grades six to eight, and teachers of the Adam-Kraft Secondary School in Nuremberg, Germany. Read their responses and thoughts below!
Thank you Paula, Denisa, Barbara, Ines and Aleksandar for participating in the interview!
How did you get to know about schoolfood4change?
Paula (student):
“Some students told me about the SchoolFood4Change project and I wanted to join it!”
Denisa (student):
“I got to know about SchoolFood4Change through our student council.”
Barbara (teacher):
“Our school director introduced the project to the whole staff at our school.”
Ines (teacher):
“Our school director informed us teachers about the SchoolFood4Change programme and invited us to be part of a working group in order to improve the food at our school.”
What role does SchoolFood4change play in everyday school life?
Denisa (student):
“We have already had a few meetings with the SF4C work group and have planned a few things we want to change at our school.”
Ines (teacher):
“I normally eat my lunch in the school canteen, where our chef cooks healthy food. The canteen chef regularly tries out new, healthy recipes. And we want to offer breakfast, that is served before the lessons start.
In group meetings, we discussed how healthy and nutritious the food offered at our school is and what could be changed.
Some teachers include the topic of healthy food in their lessons.”
Barbara (teacher):
“I eat in our canteen several times a week and I value healthy and tasty food. The chefs try new SF4C recipes each week and the meals are delicious.
Energy drinks and soft drinks with a lot of sugar are no longer served at our school. This has been a joint decision by teachers, the student council and the parent council.
A healthy breakfast for children who come to school early and don’t get a breakfast at home is in the planning process.”
What are your wishes for your school to achieve with the help of Schoolfood4Change?
Paula (student):
“It’s important that students eat healthy food so that they can focus better during class.”
Ines (teacher):
“The students should be aware of the impact of healthy and nutricious food, so that they can choose the food that benefits their health.
Only when the students know how unhealthy food and sugar can negatively impact their health, they can take informed decisions and change their food habits.
Schools can help students, by not offering unhealthy snacks during the breaks.”
Aleksandar (student):
“With SchoolFood4Change, more healthy food should be offered at our school. And there could be more dishes from different countries. The good thing is that many suggestions for improvement that have been made by the work group and SchoolFood4Change already exist at our school. So we can be ambitious!”
Barbara (teacher):
“I hope we raise more awareness and acceptance for healthy food among teachers and parents. I hope not to see big bags of chips for breakfast anymore, but sandwiches, fruits and vegetables.
With regards to our canteen, we are already on a good path, as the food served is mostly healthy and tasty.”
Do you talk about #schoolfood, eating behaviour and healthy or sustainable nutrition in Class?
Ines (teacher):
“During the English lessons in grade six, we talk about healthy food. In Ethics (grade 8), I teach about fair trade, buying food at local farms as well as the benefits of organic famring compared to industrial livestock farming.
I think it’s important that the children and youth know where their food comes from so that they can support farms that care about the planet and animal welfare.”
Paula (student):
“During our cooking lessons, we talk about healthy food, hidden sugards, unhealthy and healthy ingredients. I think it is very important to talk about healthy food.”
What is your favorite dish offered in your school canteen? And what dish should be offered in the school canteen in the future?
Aleksandar (student):
“My favourite dish is gyros with salad and Greek yogurt (tzatziki). I think “
Barbara (teacher):
“That’s hard to tell, as I like most of the food offered in our canteen and the variety of different dishes is already very good. If I had to name one dish, it might be an Indian style vegetable curry. In summer, I prefer a salad bowl to a warm meal.”
Paula (student):
“My favourite dish is cottage cheese with salad and bread. Burger and Kebab should be offered as well.”
Do you encounter the topics of food, eating behaviour and healthy or sustainable outside of the classroom?
Aleksandar (student):
“Yes I do. In the conferences and team meetings of SF4C, but also after school when I am at home. I tell my family about the food we had in the canteen.”
Paula (student):
“My parents cook healthy food at home and once a week we eat meat. We often eat vegetables, no French fries. I enjoy healthy food!”
Barbara (teacher):
“I think food is something we encounter everywhere. At home, I try to eat healthy , but I am aware that this does not always work out. In the breaks at school, I see students with their food, but we normally don’t talk about it often. This is something that should change!”
In some european countries, there is currently talk in the news about a possible ban on advertising for unehalthy foods aimed at children. What do you think about this?
Barbara (teacher):
“So, generally speaking, if something is banned, it’s even more interesting for children and youth.
I think it’s very bad that unhealthy food, with lots of sugar etc., is advertised as being healthy. This should be better controlled.
To really change the eating habits of schoolchildren, there must be awareness raising measures. Everyone, even children should understand, why some food is good for your body and healthy and some isn’t. Adults – teachers and parents, for instance – should be good examples for their children. So that children are able to take conscious decisions.”
Denisa (student):
“I think, just because it is no longer advertised doesn’t mean that children and young people no longer eat unhealthily.”
Aleksandar (student):
“I don’t like this approach of banning. I personally would like to learn more about healthy food and how it is produced.”