Finland was the first country in the world to provide free school meals, in 1948(4). Nowadays free school lunch is offered to every pupil in primary education (grades 1–9) as well as in upper secondary or vocational schools on each school day. The new dietary guidelines for
school meals by the National Nutrition Council in Finland were published in spring 2008(5). The municipalities are responsible for organising and monitoring school meals. There are great differences in the financial and practical resources for school catering between municipalities.