Mealtimes in the kindergarten are regular and essential parts of the day. Children’s early experiences with food and eating can play a huge role in their future relationship with food. Many children attending early childhood education will eat a majority of their meals for the day in a kindergarten setting. It is then clear, that teachers play an important role in children’s early experiences with food. The role that teachers play during mealtimes can be understood from many perspectives. The National Core Curriculum for Early Childhood Education in Finland points out many responsibilities during meals that are placed on teachers from an educational perspective. This study was conducted using the methodology of video-cued focus group interview. Five teachers working in early childhood education centres in Finland were interviewed in an online focus group through Zoom. The teachers watched a video from an Australia early childhood setting and commented on their thoughts and feelings. The data was analysed using content analysis. The results show that the role teachers take on during mealtimes is multifaceted. Teachers feel a responsibility to model social norms and enacting and reinforcing appropriate behaviours, by setting rules and regulations for the children. Mealtimes in the kindergarten are used to civilise and socialise children to the standards of society