Philosophy of the Catering Service
Our goal is to promote the consumption of products issued from organic and sustainable production. This regards not only the food but also its transport as well as the use of cleaning products, the kitchen utensils, the recycling and all other activities of our cooperative.
We work with organic, natural and seasonal products. All our products are purchased directly from producers and cooperatives that we know.
Our approach for the composition of our menus comprises the following 10 points:
1. A healthy and balanced menu is a combination of the seven groups of foods (presented below) and water. 2. As main dish we serve brown rice, legumes, pasta, potatoes, vegetables, or salad.
3. For protein intake we serve once a week, fish, meat or vegetable protein (seitan, tofu). 4. We adapt our selection of products to the seasons of the year. 5. With our meals, we seek to show a wide variety of flavours, tastes, colours, shapes, and textures of food.
6. In the creation of our menus, we respect special eating habits and childrenʼs stage of development. 7. We are open to new products and combine them with our usual meals. 8. We prepare most of the sauces, soups, cookies and breads ourselves, based on traditional recipes.
9. We want to encourage good eating habits. 10. We take advantage from the variety of foods with ever new combinations and thus form our gastronomic identity.
Our meals
Our goal is to encourage positive eating habits. So we begin each meal with a cup of soup to prepare the stomach for digestion. In addition, we offer the children fruit on an empty stomach or between meals, in combination with cereals and legumes.
We firmly believe that good nutrition is essential for good health!
For the composition of our menus, we are guided by the recommendations of a WHO study. We choose the optimal amounts of nutrients that are important for a healthy diet.
These are: From 40 to 60% grain and cereals From 20 to 35% vegetables From 10 to 22% protein and vegetables
From 1 to 10% salads From 3 to 7% seeds, oils, seaweed, salt, soups From 0 to 5% fruits, dried fruit and nuts
In other words, the daily energy intake should consist of 50 to 55% from carbohydrates, 30 to 35% from fat and 12% to 15% from proteins. (This is also consistent with the food recommendations of the health department of the Catalan regional government).
The basic nutrients
Below we present the nutrient groups:
Carbohydrates (sugar, glucose) are energy suppliers. Growing children need sufficient carbohydrates. We draw them from rice, pasta, breads, and some vegetables and fruits such as potatoes, bananas, chestnuts as well as honey, nuts, and (rarely) sugar.
Proteins are essential for the functioning of the organism. It is recommended to eat daily 1 g protein per each pound of body weight. They are mainly found in meat, fish, eggs, tofu, legumes, and in smaller quantities in vegetables and fruits.
Lipids or fats are substances of different composition, which serve as energy reserves of the body. Fats are important for the absorption of many vitamins from food. Fats are divided into good and bad fats. Bad fats are saturated and are mainly found in red meat, butter, etc. Vegetable oils contain a large proportion of unsaturated fatty acids, which is good fat.
The different food groups
Algae
They are a source of trace elements, vitamins and minerals. They help to remove toxic residues from the body. We always use them in combination with rice and beans. For our warm miso soup, we use wakame seaweed.
Cereals and seeds
They are the basis for a balanced diet and are served two to three times a week. We use mostly brown rice (brown rice) and serve otherwise millet, quinoa, wheat flour, spelt, chickpeas, couscous or whole grain pasta. Two to three times a week we use sesame, sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds.
Leguminous plants
They are an excellent source of proteins, minerals and fats. They are very well digested. It is recommended to eat two to three times a week small quantities of them. We use them in combination with cereals, kombu, bay leaves and seeds.
Fruit and vegetables
Fresh vegetables and fruits from the region are on the menu plan every day. They include many positive and protective substances. Vegetables provide fiber, vitamins, trace elements, minerals and contain very little fat. We use only seasonal vegetables.
Meat, fish and eggs
They contain proteins, minerals and vitamins, in the case of fish and omega-3 fatty acids but no carbohydrates or dietary fiber. The proteins of the egg are of high value and have a high content of essential amino acids and cholesterol. We serve once a week meat (chicken, veal or lamb, pork only by way of exception) and also once a week fresh fish. The fish does not come from an organic production, but is seasonal, fresh and comes from local suppliers.
Milk and dairy products
We see little advantage in the use of dairy products. We prepare mainly lactose-free meals. We use rice milk for cooking and baking. On request we can serve yogurt and cheese from cow’s milk or goat and sheep cheese.
Fats and oils
Olive oil is the star of the Mediterranean diet. Consuming it has many advantages for our body. We use for cooking only virgin olive oil cold pressed. For pastry, we use sunflower seed oil and occasionally sesame oil for vegetable dishes.
We get our oil from the agricultural cooperative (it is not a product of organic certification).
Soups are not a specific food group. Anyhow, we would like to mention them in particular. We prepare a daily soup, which is served in small quantities before meals. Two to three times a week we serve miso soup. It is very healthy and nutritious. It is made on the basis of soybeans, sea salt and algae.
The seasons and their typical products:
Autumn Spinach, endive, mushrooms, tomatoes and spices, red pepper, eggplant, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, broccoli, spinach, apples, quinces, chestnuts, hazelnuts, pomegranates
Winter Cauliflower, dried beans, cabbage, celery, radishes, turnips, parsnips, artichokes, oranges, mandarins, lemons, olives, nuts and dried fruits in general, scaling fish, game (meat of the hunt)
Spring Garlic, onions, lettuce, peas, spinach, carrots, leeks, beans, peas, tangerines, strawberries, asparagus, sprouts, sardines, anchovy, blue fish, lamb, goat
Summer Salad, new potatoes, green beans, cucumbers, zucchini, tomatoes, eggplant, green peppers, beets, apricots, plums, melons, watermelons, lemons, grapes, locust, raspberries, blackberries, squid, shrimp, crabs.
Catalan holiday specialties
In Catalonia, special dishes are prepared for many holidays. We want to convey this culture and to provide the following dishes in accordance with the festive calendar:
Castanyada 31 October (specialties with chestnuts and sweet pastry with pine nuts (panellets)) Christmas (stew with meat) Carnestoltes (Carnival, with fish dishes and Sardinia)
Lent (donuts) St. Ponç 11 April (festival in honour of the beekeeper, candied fruits, herbs and honey) St. Jordi, 23 April (Rosquilles: small donut with anise) St. Joan, 23 June (Cocas: elongated, thin pastry, sweet or spicy)
Special information and conditions
We have quarterly meetings with the administration of the BCN-kinderladen to prepare the meals. For the year 2009 / 10, we prepared meals for children with the following special diets:
• Lactose intolerance • Gluten free • Without eggs
The prices of the various services that we offer for the BCN- kinderladen, are: • Lunch menu 75 € per month • lunch and snacks (1 / 2 Grupo Siesta) 80 € monthly • lunch and snacks (Grupo Siesta) € 85 per month
Prices include VAT.
Contact and further information:
Eva Guerrero Lecha Lamanduka cooperative Catering c / Llull 11 bxs 1, 08005 Barcelona evapanino@yahoo.es
List of Suppliers (certified):
Cal Rosset Organic agriculture. Direct sales of agricultural products
Carns Miquel Mercat de Sta. Caterina, market stall Beef, chicken and lamb
El Maspons Can Rull, Organic free-range eggs, Category M Masia Can Maspons, s / n 08 415 Bigues i Riells (BCN)
Jaime J. Renobell Legumes, nuts, candy, dairy products Passeig Picasso, 32, 08003 Barcelona, Tel: 93 319 76 36
Natursoy Alimentos Ecológicos, Pol. Qual Steam A1-A2, 08 183 Casterterçol
Pacha Mama Organic Baskets www.pachamama.com
Bakery El Rincón del Segura Bread, cereals, flours from organic farming Villares-02 430 Elche de la Sierra (Albacete)
Productes del Moianès Nadolç, milk Avda. Prat, c / B exactly 2 08 180 Moia
Trévol cooperative Service and distribution of ecological cleaning products www.trevol.com