Lithuanian schools see more students eat lunch
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Schools in the Alytus and Lazdijai regions of Lithuania are increasing the number of students eating in school cafeterias by purchasing food directly from local farmers.
Several schools, including Simno Gymnasium and Šeštokai School, decided to renovate their cafeterias and handle food preparation themselves instead of relying on outside catering companies. These schools now buy fresh produce, eggs, and meat from nearby farms, allowing them to control quality and respond to student preferences.
School cooks, like Eglutė Kilikevičienė at Simno Gymnasium, focus on seasonal ingredients and introducing children to healthy options like soups. School leaders, such as Laimutė Jarmalavičienė, believe this approach improves nutritional value and encourages students to choose the cafeteria over stores. Daugų Vlado Mirono Gymnasium plans to follow suit next year, investing around 300,000 euros in renovations.
The Alytus district education department aims to transition more schools to this self-managed model each year, seeking to ensure better food quality for all students. Local officials, like Vice-Mayor Dalius Mockevičius, report a successful harvest and express satisfaction with the fresh, high-quality produce. Farmers, such as Mindaugas Anušauskas, meet strict standards monitored by the State Food and Veterinary Service to ensure food safety and nutritional value, and the Ministry of Agriculture supports this short supply chain model.
