Daycare Meals

Picture: Suvi Suovaara

The objective of meals served in ECEC is to guarantee that the children receive sufficient and balanced meals, and to steer the children towards adopting a well-balanced and varied diet.

In addition to lunch, children attending daycare are also served breakfast and a light snack. Children in nonstandard hour care will also receive dinner and a light supper, as well as eventual meals on weekends.

Do the following

ECEC Special diet guide

Children who require a special diet because of an illness will receive special meals in Sipoo ECEC. Any changes in the child’s diet are to be done in writing. This new certificate must thereafter be sent to both the central kitchen preparing the child’s meals, and to the day care facility to keep all parties informed. You may post the certificate directly to the central kitchen (the address is on the form), or to leave it at the day care facility, who will see to it that it is delivered to the correct central kitchen. The central kitchen will then inform your child's day care center’s kitchen staff of the changes. Food allergies are often alleviated as the child grows. In these cases, the restrictions can also be cancelled according to a doctor’s, a nutrition therapist’s or a public health nurse’s instructions.

Special food products are bought via wholesale dealers and local grocery stores. We use these products when preparing the meals. However, guardians are responsible of acquiring other special products that a doctor or a public health nurse has orderer for the child’s care. Some examples of such products are goods bought at the pharmacy, and special food products that the kitchen’s wholesale dealers are unable to deliver.

Children under 24 months of age will get infant formula when necessary.

The same notification form is used to submit information of both food allergies and religious diets.

We take your child’s dietary restrictions into consideration every day when preparing the meals. Thus, we wish you always remember to inform the day care center if your child is not able to attend the meals.

To whom and on what terms

In order to receive special diets for your child, you will need to present a public health nurse’s or a doctor’s certificate. The certificate needs to be signed by either a maternity clinic public health nurse or a doctor. Give the certificate to the ECEC staff at your child’s day care facility.

As to religious dietary restrictions, a doctor’s or a public health nurse’s signature is not required. In these cases, the guardian’s signature is sufficient.

School meals are free. Early education and care are chargeable services.

Payment details

The service is chargeable

Day care meals are a part of your child's ECEC, and they are included in the fee taken out for the care.

Basic information and legislation

Children in both part-time and full-time early childhood education and care are entitled to meals and the necessary snacks, for which the parents pay in the monthly fee for the care. Pupils in pre-primary and basic education are entitled to a free school lunch provided by the municipality on school days. Students in general upper secondary education and vocational upper secondary education and training are entitled to a meal at least on those days when their instruction is provided at the school.

Small children’s, pupils’ and students’ allergies and other illnesses, ethical choices and special features of their religion are taken into account in the provision of meals in day-care centres and schools.