In many schools across Sweden, meals are more than just food on the plate – they are an important part of the educational process. By integrating meals as part of the teaching, through so-called pedagogical meals, an environment is created where students not only learn about nutrition but also about social interaction and sustainability. Pedagogical meals involve using food as a tool for learning and creating a greater understanding of the importance of diet in daily life.
At the same time, this creates new opportunities and a range of administrative challenges for schools and municipalities, particularly regarding the registration and payment of meals. How can these processes be optimized while reducing the administrative burden?
What is a pedagogical meal?
A pedagogical meal is an active part of the school's educational work where the meal is used as a tool to promote students’ development. It becomes a natural extension of the teaching, where children gain insights into various food cultures, discuss the environmental impact of food, and practice making conscious choices. In this way, the meal becomes an activity that strengthens both knowledge and social competence.
A pedagogical meal is carried out when educators and teachers eat together with the students and engage in dialogue on topics such as the origin of food, its nutritional content, sustainability, and the social rules at the dining table. Students have the opportunity to develop both their knowledge about food and their social skills while gaining a better understanding of sustainable and healthy eating habits. The meal also provides an opportunity to practice respect, communication, and expressing thoughts about food. Additionally, students have the chance to try new foods in a safe environment, which can help them make more conscious choices.
Why are pedagogical meals important?
The goal of pedagogical meals is to create a learning and inclusive atmosphere where students not only learn about food but also about cooperation and social interaction. By actively participating and being good role models, staff ask important questions and help students reflect on their choices. It is about strengthening both knowledge and community and creating a positive school environment where everyone feels included.
Administrative management of pedagogical meals
Rules and costs related to pedagogical meals can vary significantly between different municipalities and schools, which means that managing these meals often requires specific solutions based on the local situation. To carry out pedagogical meals, teachers often need to register their meals so that the cost can later be deducted from their salary. In some municipalities and schools, digital systems have been implemented, where registration is easily done via mobile phones, and the cost is automatically deducted from their salary. This simplifies both the registration process and payment for educators.
Challenges with registration and payment
Despite these advances, many schools still use manual processes. In these cases, teachers and educators often have to fill out physical lists when registering their meals. These lists then need to be compiled by administrative staff and manually entered into the payroll system, which is time-consuming and prone to errors. Manual handling can lead to issues such as double registrations, lost information, or incorrect payments, which causes unnecessary frustration for both staff and administrators.
This manual process not only creates an administrative burden but also leads to a lack of oversight for both school management and municipalities. Without a smooth system to track the costs of pedagogical meals, decision-makers struggle to get a clear picture of what these meals actually cost and how resources are being used. This also complicates long-term planning and follow-up, making it harder to make well-informed decisions regarding future resources and measures. To improve this situation, it is highly beneficial to implement digital solutions that streamline registration and provide better oversight of costs.
Simplify and improve the administration of pedagogical meals
By investing in streamlined digital payment solutions, schools and municipalities can improve the administration of pedagogical meals, save time, and reduce the risk of errors. At Microdeb, we offer tailored payment solutions that automate the registration and management of meals, giving you better control and oversight. Our digital solution ensures fair and accurate payments, simplifies reporting, and integrates easily with the school's existing systems. With Microdeb, you get:
- Automated Registration: Educators and teachers can easily register their pedagogical meals through an app or a web platform, without the need for manual lists or coupons.
- Clear Overview: School management gains immediate insight into costs and statistics for pedagogical meals, which facilitates follow-up and planning.
- Secure Payment Handling: With Microdeb's system, staff can pay for their meals directly within the system if needed, with support for various payment models depending on the municipality's policy – from direct payment to salary deductions.
- Automatic Reporting: Data about meals can be integrated directly into the school's payroll system, reducing the risk of errors and saving time for administrators.
Want to learn more about how Microdeb can simplify the management of pedagogical meals at your school or municipality? Book a meeting or fill out the contact form below, and we’ll tell you more!
