Starting school with enjoyment: organic lunch box for 660 first graders in Rhön-Grabfeld

Starting school with enjoyment: organic lunch box for 660 first graders in Rhön-Grabfeld

In the Rhön-Grabfeld district, exciting school years recently began for many first graders. The children in classes 1a and 1b at the Hollstadt-Wollbach primary school experienced a special hour when District Administrator Thomas Habermann, the mayor of Wollbach, Thomas Bruckmüller, and the project manager of the Rhön-Grabfeld eco-model region, Svenja Arbes, came by. The reason for their visit was the third edition of the organic bread box campaign.

As part of this initiative, 660 first graders in the region receive an extremely practical and sustainable reusable lunch box filled with a healthy, organic, regional breakfast. The goal is clear: to help children recharge their energy reserves after class and to emphasize the importance of a healthy breakfast.

The importance of the organic bread box campaign

In total, around 90 percent of first graders from 19 schools took part in the campaign, which ran until mid-October. This is a further step in the nationwide organic bread box initiative, which aims to raise awareness among children and their parents about healthy, sustainable food and regional organic farming. The simple message is: “A good breakfast is a good lesson.”

District Administrator Habermann took the opportunity to talk to the children about the components of a healthy breakfast. Whether fruit, vegetables or whole grain bread – variety is the key to a healthy diet. The children also learned that “organic” comes from Greek and means “life”. At the breakfast buffet, interesting facts about the origins of food and how it is produced were explained so that the children could go home with new knowledge and a full stomach.

Insights into healthy eating

The breakfast offered, among other things, organic wholemeal spelled bread from the baker Amthor in Waltershausen, organic Gouda from the natural food store in Bad Neustadt and apples from an unpackaged store. Vegetables from regional organic farms also found their way into the bread boxes. Manufacturers such as the Biohof Hartmann and Adele’s from Lebenhan contributed to a colorful lunch.

The campaign was supported by financial support from Sparkasse Bad Neustadt and VR-Bank Main-Rhön, which made it possible to purchase the lunch boxes for the children. UPS also took over delivery across Germany to provide logistical support for the campaign. The companies Sonnentor and Lebensbaum donated tea bags to round off the breakfast.

It is pleasing that the organic bread box campaign has met with overwhelming approval and plans are already being made for a new edition next year. Every year the number of participants grows and more and more children discover the joy of healthy food.