The topic was brought up for discussion when Democracy x, Meyers Madhus, and INVI, in collaboration with FREJ and Madkulturen, hosted an inspiring morning meeting on January 6 about food education for children and young people.
Professor Annemarie Olsen began with a pointed observation: If we, as adults, don’t dare to try new flavors and experiment with food ourselves, how can we expect our children to do so? Can each of us get better at trying out flavors and textures that we had actually written off? Maybe a little blue cheese in the sauce the next time we cook?
The good news is that many children actually enjoy experimenting with food—especially if they’re allowed to do it together with us, whether we’re their parents, childcare providers, or teachers.
But food education is about much more than just taking a bite of blue cheese. It’s about a broad understanding of the role food plays in our lives and society:
Experiencing food with all the senses— seeing, smelling, and touching the ingredients as they are transformed into a meal.
To make mealtime a unifying event —a social experience that fosters a sense of togetherness within the family and in communities.
Learning cooking skills —how to handle a knife safely and how to tell if fish is fresh.
Understanding the journey of food —where do the ingredients come from, how do they affect the climate and the environment, and how are they turned into a meal?
Allowing children to take on responsibility —involving them in planning, preparing, and choosing food, both at home and in childcare settings.
These were some of the points our panel presented to us, which were then discussed among the many attendees. There was broad agreement in the room that food education is not just about eating healthily, but also about fostering an understanding of the importance of food to us as individuals and as a society.
At the morning meeting, we heard inspiring presentations from Annemarie Olsen, Maibritt Iversen, Camilla Suna, Anne-Birgitte Agger, and Claus Meyer, and the discussion was expertly moderated by Tanja Nyvold.
Would you like to join us next time?
We’re continuing our series of morning meetings, where we’ll take a close look at how we can transform our food system through communities:
April 3 – The Role of Agriculture
May 22 – Everyday Meals
Thank you to everyone who participated and contributed to a lively debate!
And maybe your own culinary journey could begin as early as tonight? Perhaps with a new ingredient on your plate?