Abstract: A method and a system for successively portioning and arranging meals on a plurality of serving trays (2) and a work station (4) therefor is provided, which replaces a conveyor belt technique with an island technique. To this end, the system includes, in particular, a portioning station (1) for stationary preparation of a serving tray (2) for a manual portioning of foods; a work station (4), which is assigned to an operator and which is situated next to the portioning station (1); and a number of storage containers (5) filled with different foods to be portioned. The work station (4) essentially includes a frame with a number of the storage containers (5) for different foods. The storage containers (5) are placed one above another in at least two, and preferably three, different levels, can be vertically adjusted, and the horizontal inclination can also be adjusted. The work station (4) preferably includes a cooling device and/or a heating device.