A sustainable pedagogical meal : Teachers’ experiences and role in school meals stemming from the sustainability and meal concept of Diet for a Green Planet in the municipality of Södertälje

The free Swedish school meal is an important part of many citizens everyday lives. It may also act as a viable platform and subject for sustainability measures that could foster a sustainable meal culture among Swedish pupils. This study relates to the sustainable school meal stemming from the perspective and experience of teachers within the municipality of Södertälje that teach pupils from preschool up to grade six. The purpose of this qualitative interview study has been to analyze attitudes, perceived role and prerequisites in working with pedagogy during school meals that adhere to the meal concept of “Diet For a Green Planet” that the municipality of Södertälje uses. The results show that teachers through their shared experience show their own autonomous interest and engagement in specific dimensions of sustainable development when it comes to school meals. A certain conflict between the different parties that relate to the making of meals is also presented, where said parties seem to be further apart from each other in communication than what the teachers would like. Furthermore the results show that the meal concept Diet For a Green Planet seems to mainly exist as hidden and inherent values in the food that is served.