Social services Espoo is trying to distribute food and instructions to families with children

City|Social services

Espoo test a free food box distributed to selected families in family social work that contains both clear instructions and ingredients for healthy food.

In addition to the main dishes for the whole week, the box includes fruit and various snacks, as well as olive oil and vitamin D.

I’m experimenting the idea is to make everyday life easier for families with children. The package encourages you to make food together.

Its ingredients are as healthy, ecological and affordable as possible, so that even a low-income family can cook with the same recipes later. The main dishes are cooked from pumpkin and lentils, for example.

Head of Family Social Work Mia Kivilinko says the central idea in the experiment is that nutritious food belongs to everyone, regardless of income.

“It has such a significant impact on the well-being of families, for example, the coping of both parents and children.”

The boxes have been assembled by Venner.

Espoo tried the boxes on a small scale already last year in adult social work. From there, those who received the box received commendable feedback. Families who participated in the first pilot said they learned new skills such as making better vegetarian food from more varied ingredients.

Now, 25 families have initially been selected from family social work. Those selected will receive three free food boxes during the month. The purpose of the pilot is to find out whether such food education could be a permanent part of family work for even a larger group.

In addition to the raw materials, the box also contains instructions for making them. There are also instructions in the videos and pictures so that the recipes can be understood, even if you do not know Finnish perfectly.

In addition, family workers are willing to support families here as well. Support can be as much advice as concrete help with cooking, depending on what the family needs.