Nordic Food Day

Last week, 45,000 students in 125 of D.C.’s public schools found a very different type of meal on their school lunch tray: Nordic cured meats, pickled vegetables and fresh fruit.

These special Scandinavian meals were served as part of the DCPS International Food Program and a longstanding Embassy Adoption Program between the embassies of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden and the D.C. Public Schools, with the goal of encouraging wholesome eating and sharing international cuisine.

On Nordic Food Day-the first of several planned international food days-students sampled Swedish meatballs, Norwegian salmon with dill sauce, roasted root vegetables and wasa crisp bread and lingonberry juice. The food was produced locally with the help of some of the world’s best chefs and donated by many Scandinavian businesses, including Ikea and a Norwegian fishing council.

The program’s cultural immersion doesn’t end with the food; students also enjoyed visits from six ambassadors, seven Scandinavian chefs, performances by four musicians and a special visit by HRH Prince Daniel of Sweden.

To learn more about Nordic Food Day or to see a slideshow of photos from the event, click here. To learn more about the benefits of a Scandinavian diet, check out the “New Nordic Cuisine” feature of the August issue of Viking magazine.