Mateřská škola Brandýs n.L-Stará Boleslav, Pražská 297

Preventing waste: A challenge for the ‘best eaters’ in the school canteen

As part of our long-term effort to encourage children to eat healthily and take a responsible approach to food, we organised a challenge called ‘Best Eaters’ at our nursery school. The aim was to encourage children to try new foods and teach them that wasting food is wrong.

The challenge took place during school lunches. We monitored each class according to the amount of leftovers after the meal. The class with the least amount of waste not only received recognition, but also a reward in the form of the opportunity to choose a lunch that they could really enjoy together with the others.

The children participated enthusiastically, took more interest in what was on their plates, and were more open to trying unfamiliar foods. The result was not only less waste, but also greater interest in a varied and healthy diet.

And what did the children choose in the end? The winner was the popular baked schnitzel with vegetables and mashed potatoes – a classic dish that almost everyone likes.

This challenge showed us that children can be guided towards a more considerate approach to food in a playful way – and that even small steps can bring big results.