“Butter chicken was first featured under the Indian food theme a year ago and was very well received. We ended up getting a lot of requests to add the dish to the permanent school menu, and in the autumn we responded to this demand. It's great to find such a new favourite dish that not only tastes good, but also meets the nutritional and preparation requirements,” says Development Manager Maarit Ojaluoma from Palvelukeskus Helsinki’s Food Services.
In addition to conducting the annual favourite school meal survey, Palvelukeskus Helsinki organises tastings in which pupils and students get to try out new dishes before they are added to the rotating menu. This allows pupils and students to assess whether the dish is something that they would like to see on the menu in the future.
“For example, if several pupils involved in a tasting think that there is room for improvement in the flavour or composition of a dish, our product development team will further refine the recipe based on the feedback before we start offering the dish more widely,” says Ojaluoma.
Pupils of Lauttasaari Primary School wanted fish fingers to be served more frequently
The pupils and students’ top 10 list also included many traditional everyday dishes, such as frankfurter sauce, fish soup and macaroni casserole.
The pupils involved in the restaurant committee of Lauttasaari Primary School think that the top 10 list of the favourite school meal survey also corresponds well to their favourite dishes. In particular, first grade pupils wanted fish fingers to be served more frequently.
At Palvelukeskus Helsinki, decisions regarding the rotating menu are made in cooperation with the City of Helsinki Education Division, which is responsible for school meals.
“Adding more fish fingers to the menu is one of the things that we will consider when we plan next year's menu together with experts from the Education Division,” Ojaluoma says.
The fifth-graders on the restaurant committee also wished for a favourite from years past, kebab sauce, to be added back on the menu.
“The kebab sauce has clearly left a strong impression on pupils. The good news is that it and a number of other favourite dishes voted by pupils and students will be served during Wish List Week in the autumn,” Ojaluoma promises.
Top 10 school meals according to pupils and students
- Fish fingers
- Butter chicken
- Chicken curry
- Spinach pancakes
- Tortillas with vegetable filling
- Frankfurter sauce
- Tuna and pasta bake
- Pea soup
- Minced meat and macaroni casserole
- Fish soup
The favourite school meals survey was carried out electronically in spring 2026 in a total of approximately 120 City of Helsinki comprehensive schools, general upper secondary schools and vocational colleges where Palvelukeskus Helsinki provides food services. Responses to the survey were received from approximately 3,300 pupils and students. The most popular dishes will be served during Wish List Week in the autumn.