Common Table: Best practices and tools for the school canteens of tomorrow Contributions

Food educates. Food can bring about change.

Every day, millions of children encounter food, flavour, habits, community norms and choices in school canteens that will affect the future of the planet.

Common Table. Best practices and tools for the school canteens of tomorrow, which stems from the European SchoolFood4Change project, invites us to view the school meal as one of the most tangible aspects of transitioning to better, cleaner and fairer food systems.

Transforming the canteen involves addressing what ends up on the plate, as well as how the meal is conceived, cooked, served, presented and shared. It means recognising the value of the people who cook, listening to the experiences of children, and engaging with schools, families, local authorities, producers, suppliers and communities.

This handbook brings together ideas, tools, recipes, experiences and evidence gathered across Europe. It is an invitation to come together to develop, day by day, a food culture that promotes health, enjoyment, fairness and responsibility towards the Earth.

The transition begins when food becomes about relationships, care, and the common good once again.