Browsing by Subject "ekologinen kasvatus"

National nutrition and food recommendations seek to shape the nutritional habits and eating behaviors of the Finnish population. National nutrition recommendations also serve as the basis for separately composed food recommendations targeting specific population groups. Thus, the national recommendations also provide the groundwork for the school meal recommendation, first published in 2008 and later updated and expanded in 2017. This study examines the perspectives emphasized by nutrition experts regarding national nutrition recommendations and school meals. The study also explores experts' views on plant-based food in the context of school meals and nutrition recommendations, as well as their perceptions of the animal perspective and animal ethical dimensions as part of nutrition recommendations. Previous research on the transition to plant-based eating in school meals is limited. Hence, this study also aims to provoke discussion on expanding perspectives regarding school meals and the potential of plant-based eating in an educational setting. Participants of the study included five nutrition experts extensively involved in the work of nutrition recommendations, four of whom are members of the National Nutrition Council, a governmental body in charge of publishing national nutrition recommendations. The study data was produced through semi-structured thematic interviews and analyzed thematically using qualitative content analysis. Interpretation of the data was based on the theoretical framework of the study, which drew on posthumanist thinking. The theoretical framework also included interpretations of the moral status of animals, relationships between children and animals, and the ecological commitment of education. According to the study, the experts highlighted research-based, independence, national context, and educational perspectives regarding nutrition recommendations and school meals. The experts considered the increasing emphasis on plant-based foods important both in school meals and in Finnish nutrition overall. However, they were skeptical about basing school meals entirely on plant-based foods, citing nutritional and cultural challenges. According to the study, the experts placed trust on the justness of Finnish animal production and largely viewed animal ethics as a separate perspective from nutrition recommendations.