Swedish food agency recommends students eat beans daily and limit meatballs to once a week

Sweden’s National Food Agency has tightened its school meal guidelines, advising daily servings of legumes and a maximum of 125 grams of red meat per week—equivalent to one portion of meatballs, SVT Nyheter reports.

The updated recommendations, designed to support students’ concentration and performance, mark the first time the agency has set a strict weekly limit on red meat. A standard 125-gram portion equals roughly 12–14 meatballs or one hamburger. Schools are also encouraged to serve “hybrid dishes” blending meat with legumes like beans, lentils, or peas when red meat is offered.

Emelie Elin, a nutritionist at the agency, cited research linking red meat consumption to increased risks of colorectal cancer. “The school meal plays a crucial role in providing equal knowledge about healthy eating,” she said.

The guidelines have sparked debate, with rural affairs minister Peter Kullgren (Christian Democrats) arguing that students should have an animal-based option daily. “I don’t support the trend toward forced vegetarian school lunches,” he told SVT Nyheter, adding that children might otherwise turn to unhealthy snacks. “The most important thing is that kids actually eat.”

Some parents have responded by packing lunches for their children, while municipalities like Sjöbo are reconsidering meat-free school days. Stockholm, meanwhile, has launched a program to cut food-related emissions by 40 percent by 2030—a move that has drawn criticism from opposition parties.

The agency acknowledged the importance of ensuring students feel satiated but stressed that school meals should also introduce foods they might not eat at home. “Variety is key for both health and learning,” Elin said.