On this day, onion and corn soup is on the menu at SO De Schans. The children learn about the superpowers of onions.
A regular classroom ritual
After two students have served the soup together with their teacher, the preschoolers watch a video about the onion. Among other things, it shows them how this vegetable grows. The children are enthusiastic; when the video ends, they shout “again!”, after which the teacher plays it again. “This happens every week,” she says with a laugh.
Tasting at their own pace
In grades 3 and 4, the students work with sticker cards. They can earn stickers by smelling the soup, tasting a little, tasting a lot, or eating the entire bowl of soup. In this way, children are encouraged to discover new flavors in a positive and accessible manner.
In grades 7 and 8, quiz questions provide extra energy and engagement. Students cheer when an answer is correct and ask for more quiz questions—and more soup. The student acting as quizmaster says that through Groentjessoep, he learned about lentils for the first time. About helping out, he says: “I can’t sit still for very long anyway, so it’s nice to do!”
A welcome addition without much extra work
For ten years, SO De Schans has been gradually working on a Healthy School policy: from offering school fruit and eliminating juice boxes to healthy lunch boxes and a celebration policy without treats. Groentjessoep is a welcome addition to this: “It helps overcome resistance to new vegetables and is a fun moment for everyone, without much extra work,” says Nariné, the school’s medical care coordinator.
Flexible program
The organization of the soup moment has deliberately been kept accessible. Nariné and her colleague Lisa heat up the soup. Every week, two children from each class collect the soup together with their teacher. This allows everyone to participate and fits well with the school’s vision, where no visible distinction is made between what children can or cannot do.
Nariné sees the flexibility of Groentjessoep as a major advantage. “Groentjessoep has a very good program, and as a school, we put our own spin on it,” she explains. “Every school can do this in its own way.”
Involved parents
The soup of the week is communicated to parents in advance. They clearly see the value of the program: some even ask for the quiz questions or videos to use at home. Around the holidays, students take a Groentjessoep Home Package home with them. This way, the whole family is involved.
Recommended for other schools
Nariné certainly recommends Groentjessoep to other schools: “It is healthy, educational, and fun. Eating together helps children get to know new flavors and taste with more enjoyment.”