DRINK Finland
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Organic production and nature also produce the superfoods that many people are prepared to pay more for and of which more is also demanded. In addition to the production chain, consumers must know the entire path of their food from the farm through processing and shops to the table. There is an increasing demand for stories of a happy cow called Daisy and the farmer’s wife who made the yoghurt. Ample provisions Austerity has also taught Finnish people to think that you should finish everything on your plate. Whilst an empty plate is in many cultures a sign to the cook to fill it up again, and leaving the table with an empty plate is considered an insult, in Finland it is a sign that the food was tasty and appreciated. Food should also not be wasted by leaving leftovers on the plate. A Finnish cook will be worried if the plate is not empty at the end of the meal: “Was there something wrong with it?” Amidst all this abundance and junk food culture, people have gradually begun to realize that the “finish your plate” principle means many people put on too much weight. That is why it is no longer considered bad manners to leave something on your plate; this is a better alternative than obesity, after all. However, wasting food makes no sense from an environmental point of view. Updated to modern times, “finish your plate” is still a good principle. It refers to the entire production chain from growing the ingredients, processing them, and preparing and serving the meal to the person who then eats it. Understanding the entire chain is important: the production, distribution and preparation of food consume plenty of resources, not only as finished foodstuffs but also as water, fertilizers, fuel used in transportation, energy consumption of storage facilities and finally, as food gone bad that is taken to landfill sites. The Finnish school meal system is well placed to guide children’s dietary habits from a young age. Free and healthy school meals are often listed as one reason for Finland doing so well in PISA studies. You should only put on your plate what you really need to eat.