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Menu and catering and cleaning services for early years education

Mealtimes in early years education form part of a child’s basic care, upbringing and education. Mealtimes are a social occasion where children interact with others, learn to try new foods and flavours, and develop good eating habits.

Nursery school menus

The menus for the nurseries can be viewedon the eRuokalista website.

We follow the latest (2018)‘Health and Joy from Food’ dietary guidelines for early childhood education. In line with these nutritional guidelines, we pay close attention to the nutritional content of meals, salt levels and the choice of ingredients. Meals include, for example, vegetables, berries, fruit, high-fibre bread, low-fat meat and dairy products, and vegetable spreads. We follow a five-week rotating menu, taking into account festive meals at Christmas and Easter.

Domestic / locally sourced food

When it comes to procurement, the selection of raw materials and menu planning, we prioritise domestic and locally sourced produce, as well as operating our catering services in a way that is consistent with sustainable development and takes environmental considerations into account. Potatoes and onions come from Siilinjärvi, whilst berries and bread products are sourced from the surrounding area. Meat, chicken, milk and dairy products are Finnish. We take the seasonal variation in fruit and vegetables into account when planning our menus. During the peak harvest season, our salads, tomatoes and cucumbers are sourced domestically. As the harvest season changes, ingredients may also be sourced from within the EU.

Special diets

In line with the new national allergy programme and guidelines, the aim is to avoid unnecessary allergy diets. In Siilinjärvi’s early years education services, we followthe national allergy programmein collaboration with the child health clinic. Children requiring a special diet are provided with a separate meal based on a written statement from a health visitor or doctor. Allnotifications regarding special dietary requirementsare made in consultation with the health visitor at the child health clinic and are then forwarded to the nursery kitchen.

Please let the kitchen know in advance if a diner requiring a specific special diet (e.g. coeliac, dairy-free, multiple allergies) will be absent; this will help us avoid preparing meals unnecessarily.

Skilled kitchen professionals

Environmental responsibility plays a key role in the kitchen’s operations.

In the field of early years education, we are working towardsthe Makuaakkoset diploma. The diploma is a recognition awarded to nurseries for promoting nutritionally, educationally, socially and environmentally sustainable meals in nurseries.

Parents and carers are always welcome to discuss any matters relating to meals with the kitchen staff.

You can find the Oiva reports on food safety inspectionson the Oivahymy website. Type ‘Siilinjärvi municipality’ into the search box that appears.