“Food is a very tangible thing for children and young people, and an important part of their day at school or daycare. It’s great that during Wish List Week we get to serve exactly the dishes that children and young people themselves are most looking forward to,” says Development Manager Maarit Ojaluoma from Palvelukeskus Helsinki.
The much-loved kebab sauce is also making a comeback for the theme week.
“We are pleased to be able to fulfil this student request as part of Wish List Week. The last time we had kebab on our menu was four years ago," says Ojaluoma.
In daycare centres, children enjoy dishes such as hot dog sauce, fish fingers, spinach pancakes, fish soup and pasta bake.
Favourites we all know and love, plus a surprising new addition
The students’ favourite dishes are mainly familiar ones, such as fish fingers, spinach pancakes, pasta bake, chicken curry and tortillas with a vegetable filling. Butter chicken was also voted one of the most popular dishes; it was added to the standard school menu at the students’ request about a year ago, following an India-themed week.
“Our product development team comes up with numerous new dishes each year for our themed weeks. It’s great to see diners discovering new favourites among them and hoping they will become part of the regular menu," Ojaluoma says with a smile.
In daycare centres, both early childhood educators and children – with the help of their parents and guardians – were asked about the children’s favourite foods. The children’s favourite dishes were fish fingers, pasta bake, hot dog sauce, spinach pancakes, butter chicken, tuna and pasta bake and fish soup.
Favourite meal surveys were carried out electronically in spring 2026 at a total of approximately 120 City of Helsinki comprehensive schools, general upper secondary schools and vocational colleges and 300 daycare centres where Palvelukeskus Helsinki provides food services.
The surveys were completed by around 3,300 students, around 200 early childhood educators at daycare centres, and 1,050 children with the help of a parent or guardian.