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Paper short abstract:

50% of the school children eat in public catering. The presentation highlights the role of the canteen in its early days and how it has all changed today based on the study of the author’s research group. It focuses on the operation and social embeddedness of canteens and at-home eating habits.

Paper long abstract:

Half of the school-age children eat in public catering which was also the case throughout the 20th century in Hungary. The presentation highlights the role of the school food in its early days and how it has all changed today based on the study of the author’s research group, comprised of ethnographers and dietitians. It focuses on the operation and social embeddedness of canteens and the at-home eating habits of families involved through questionnaires, interviews and fieldwork observations.

School food played an important role in children's nutrition in First WW and after during the economic crisis. Later the Socialist state took over part of the provision of everyday care for children from families. The provision of meals was also organised and made easily accessible for all to support the employment of mothers in need. Now the operation of canteens has become particularly problematic following the measures introduced due to the Covid. It is unsatisfactory both in terms of social life and nutrition. During the lockdown, it became clear to parents how much the canteen was helping families on a daily basis. The food prices have doubled in the past year, the canteen, therefore, is of great importance in terms of needy children’s nutrition and fruit consumption. As a result, more children are eating in public catering in the post-Covid times than before.