From 13 to 16 October 2025, as part of the “SchoolFood WasteSolutions” project, four pilot schools in the Latgale region — Mērdzene Primary School, Ludza City Secondary School, Preiļi 1st Primary School, and Riebiņi Primary School — conducted the first testing of new recipes. During this testing, pupils were offered new and healthy dishes both as part of the daily menu and as tasting samples, allowing them to give their opinions on possible improvements to school catering.

The new recipes were developed in accordance with healthy eating guidelines, buffet-style catering principles, and seasonal product availability. During the testing, pupils tasted several new dishes, such as pumpkin cream soup with croutons and herbs, chicken cutlet with pumpkin, bean stew with minced meat, and pumpkin–curd cream with apples.

After lunch, pupils participated in a voting activity using green smiley tokens to mark the dishes they liked most. This simple and child-friendly approach encouraged active participation and provided valuable feedback. In addition, a follow-up survey will be conducted among focus group participants to gain deeper insights into children’s opinions and eating habits.

Recipe testing in pilot schools will continue throughout the academic year, and the feedback collected will be used to create a recipe book for schools. The aim of the book is to design menus that match children’s tastes and nutritional needs, are suitable for buffet-style catering, and help reduce food waste.

“Children’s involvement is essential — not only to create menus they enjoy, but also to raise awareness of healthy eating and a responsible attitude towards food,” emphasizes project expert Dzintra Kokta. “We can see that children are curious and eager to try new flavours — this is a strong foundation for positive change.”

This project is co-financed by the European Union. The Interreg Central Baltic Programme 2021–2027 promotes cross-border cooperation to address shared challenges and build a more sustainable, innovative, and inclusive Central Baltic region.

Programme website: https://centralbaltic.eu/

Official EU website: www.europa.eu

Contact:

Rita Ivanova

Daugavpils University

Senior Project Manager

E-mail: rita.ivanova@du.lv

Phone: +371 29857838

This publication has been prepared with the financial support of the European Union. Daugavpils University is solely responsible for the content of this publication, which should not be regarded as reflecting the views of the European Union