Ohrapuuroa ja näkkäriä

Barley porridge and crispbread – the story of Finnish school meals Barley porridge and crispbread – the story of Finnish school meals takes the visitor on a journey back more than a hundred years. The free meal was originally intended to attract children from low-income families to school and to secure their nutrition during the school day. In 1943, free school lunch was extended in Finland to be the right of every pupil – the first in the whole world. School meals grew into a symbol of the Finnish welfare state, which builds equal opportunities for both well-being and learning. The exhibition brings to light the history of school meals and the memories associated with them from different decades. Over the course of more than 80 years, the free meal has touched countless Finns and shaped our understanding of community, nutrition and schooling. From the days of porridge and gruel we have come a long way towards today's responsible, nutritious and socially significant food service. The exhibition has been produced in cooperation between the Finnish Agricultural Museum Sarka and the Hotel and Restaurant Museum.