IT'S a catering conundrum of biblical proportions: how to feed 225,000 young people for six days. World Youth Day (WYD) organisers expect almost 3 million meals will be devoured when the Catholic pilgrims descend on Sydney in July.
One million breakfasts will be distributed to about 700 accommodation sites; 1 million lunches to about 300 sites where the faithful will be undertaking catechesis (Catholic teachings led by a bishop) and 900,000 hot dinners to six CBD sites where evening functions will be held.
WYD pilgrim services director Geoff Morris said the food would come with a distinct Australian flavour, with the iconic Vegemite sandwich and ever-popular Tim Tam appearing in lunch packs.
"We want to put a little bit of an Australian twist in it," Mr Morris said. "We want to show off a bit of our country."
Breakfasts will include cereals and croissants, fresh sandwiches are on the lunch menu, and dinners will feature lamb, beef goulash, butter chicken, pasta and vegetarian curry.
The meals will have been paid for by the pilgrims as part of their registration package.
The food was sampled by year 11 food technology school students and tested during the International Preparatory Meeting in October, when 200 world delegates, including members of the Vatican's Pontifical Council for the Laity, visited Sydney for a three-day conference.
All Leisure Hospitality will provide the hot meals.
General manager Roger Batty said: "We look forward to the challenging task ahead where we will be providing outdoor hot meals to the largest gathering of internationals that Australia has witnessed."
Mr Morris said the lunch and dinners would be distributed in packs of six for ease of distribution and to encourage pilgrims to eat together and meet new people.
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