In the small local school in Mihaljevci, with just 20 students spread across three classes, teachers Kristina Ralašić, Josipa Marčetić, and Marica Zovko work daily with students on activities that promote reducing food waste and responsible use of resources. The FoodEducators program, used in Croatian schools, has provided support and resources to help them develop awareness about the importance of responsible eating and sustainability in an engaging and practical way.
Year-Round Activities for Lasting Habits
The teachers will carry out these activities throughout the school year, as preventing food waste has become part of the school’s daily routine. In the school kitchen, surplus food often appears, and to avoid unnecessary waste, they’ve developed a series of practical solutions. Teachers and students jointly use a composter for fruit and vegetable scraps, while cooked leftovers from plates are collected for farm animals, contributing to sustainability.
Creative use of food surplus
With the goal of maximizing food use, the school regularly organizes the preparation of new dishes from surplus ingredients. Leftover rice and mashed potatoes are turned into delicious patties, while bread is cut into cubes and dried for soups or breadcrumbs. Fruits and vegetables are sliced to encourage students to eat them before they lose freshness. Quickly ripening bananas are used to make banana bread or cake. Students actively participate in preparation and learn about sustainability, with all recipes recorded in a booklet that will serve as a future source of ideas for everyone.
The school regularly reports on all activities on the Primary School website at “Vladimir Nazor” Primary school in Trenkovo, Facebook Škola Trenkovo raising awarenss among parents and the community.
A small school with a big impact.
This small school in Mihaljevci demonstrates that true impact does not depend on the number of students or the size of the community, but rather on dedication and innovation in educating young generations for a sustainable future. Through their daily actions, the students and teachers of this school become examples of responsible and sustainable behavior towards food, motivating the local community to adopt and nurture these values.
