Mealtimes are a celebration at Waldorf schools across the world. Food is an integral part of our daily lives, and we inculcate reverence for it right from the toddler years. Find out how our practices can be easily adapted into your homes.
From growing food to cooking to eating mindfully together, we lay the foundation for a lifelong love and respect for food. We understand that food nourishes not just the physical but affects our mental and spiritual well-being. As a Waldorf school based in an Indian setting, we derive from our own roots and Ayurvedic literature. With little ideas, we try to help children and families make better nutritional choices.
We recommend consuming foods that are wholesome, light and nourishing.
The children’s meals are centered around whole foods that are packed with nutrients, antioxidants and fibre.
‘FRUIT TIME’ is an important part of our school day. Children bring in fruits that we all wash, peel, cut and share with each other, every day.
We encourage children to eat seasonal fruits. In cities, all fruits are available throughout the year, but all fruits are not good for us all through the year. For instance, watermelons are good for our body in summers only and apples in winter.
We follow a weekly food plan. This weekly rhythm is designed keeping in mind the qualities of the cosmic origin of each weekday and the Navadhanya (9 grains). This rhythm plays a role in helping children recognize days. It's not unusual to hear a child say that today is 'juice day' or 'chapati day' as opposed to Tuesday or Wednesday!
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This is our plan at Inbloom Walfdorf and you can try this at home too.
Eat local and seasonal.
Try a rainbow diet: plenty of vegetables and fruits, and a balance of different types of food on your child's plate.
Remember that children prefer simple flavours and textures.
Be mindful of portion sizes. It's more important that the little ones try everything versus eat lots of one thing.
Set a specific snack and mealtime. Regular mealtimes help the child's digestive system know when it is time to eat a meal.
Encouraging curiosity not fussiness at mealtimes
Children also learn from imitation. This is one of the primary reasons why every thali looks the same at InBloom. We do not force children to eat any food, but watching peers eat, encourages them to at least try every item of food even if it is in smaller quantities. When they observe teachers and classmates eating different foods, children also try unfamiliar foods and learn to eat a variety of foods.