The proportion of children in Sweden requiring special diets, often referred to as 'desired diets' or 'önskekost', has notably increased, leading several municipalities to tighten criteria for who qualifies for adapted meals. This trend reflects growing concerns about children's nutrition and the effectiveness of school-provided meals. In the city of Umeå, some parents have opted to send homemade lunch boxes with their children to address inadequate food offerings at schools, particularly when the menus do not meet the dietary needs of certain children.

Agneta Hörnell, a professor of nutritional sciences at Umeå University, highlights the importance of adapted meals for children with specific dietary requirements. She emphasizes that 'desired diets' are primarily used when children either cannot eat the standard school meals due to health conditions or display a negative response to certain foods. Hörnell insists that while it’s crucial that these children receive adequate nutrition, the provision of lunch boxes or special diets should be viewed as a last resort.

Hörnell advocates for a more holistic approach from schools regarding their food offerings. She stresses the importance of encouraging children to try different foods and expanding their diet rather than defaulting to special arrangements. This necessitates a level of training and gradual exposure to various foods, which would enable children to develop a more diverse palate and better nutritional habits over time. Overall, the report underscores the need for careful consideration of children's dietary needs in educational settings, balancing nutritional adequacy and social integration during meal times.