The children receive quality meals in the town's schools.

Healthy in Hafnarfjörður

The Municipality of Hafnarfjörður has finalised a service contract with Í-mat ehf. for the production and service of food for ten preschools and all the town's primary schools, along with its after-school clubs.

Valdimar Víðisson, the mayor, says that the agreement ensures the quality and safety of the meals provided for the town's children and staff. „The school's food culture is a major part of children's well-being and health, and we have placed a strong emphasis on nutritional value, variety and sustainability.“

The contract will take effect on 1 August 2025 and will run until 31 July 2028, with the option to be extended twice for two years. The total duration of the contract can therefore be up to seven years. I-mat ehf. will provide a complete solution for the preparation and distribution of meals in accordance with the strictest quality standards, as the company has many years of experience in the catering industry.

Valdimar Víðisson with Pétur Viðarsson and Elín Elíasdóttir from Í-mat.

Regular check-up

The contract stipulates regular monitoring of nutritional value and implementation, responsibility for waste management, and clear response procedures should any deviations occur. Fanney Dóróthe Halldórsdóttir, Director of the Education and Public Health Department for Hafnarfjörður, says the emphasis on fresh ingredients, varied options and high nutritional value is in line with the recommendations of the Chief Medical Officer and the town's nursery school nutrition charter.

„By securing a strong partnership with a reliable provider of school meals, Hafnarfjörður is taking an important step towards a healthy nutritional environment for the children of Hafnarfjörður.“

Healthy food

A fresh salad bar with a variety of vegetables and fruit will be in every primary school. It has been agreed that the nutritional content for each meal will always be specified for each day. Care should be taken to ensure that the food is colourful, well-balanced, minimally processed, free from unnecessary E-numbers and as fresh as possible when it arrives on the children's plates.

• The nursery children have porridge for breakfast and are offered either yoghurt or cereal twice a week. They are served sliced fruit with cod liver oil or baby oil. They are given cinnamon, but not cinnamon sugar. They also have their afternoon snack.
• Primary school children will be offered a fruit and vegetable subscription during morning break, where parents and guardians can purchase a subscription.

But what do the children get for lunch? Lunch consists of:

• Main course
• Side dishes
• Salad bar (in primary schools)

Particular emphasis is placed on ensuring that lunch portions are nutritious and meet the Chief Medical Officer's recommendations for the recommended daily intake.

• Food should be minimally processed, and additives should be kept to a minimum.
• Vegetables and/or fruit should accompany the meal daily.
• Fibre-rich products, such as side dishes and bread.
• Fish shall be offered at least twice a week, including oily fish (e.g. salmon or trout, but not smoked fish). A variety of cooking methods. Boiled fish should not be served on a set day of the week.
• Red meat should be eaten in moderation.
• Healthy fats (unsaturated) should be prioritised.

In accordance with official recommendations, meals should take into account the following factors:

• Salt intake should be moderate, and added sugar kept to an absolute minimum.
• Fresh food should be prioritised as much as possible.
• Food should be colourful and appropriate for the age group in question.

Yes, now we're excited. Good food = feeling better!