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Ask a person their favorite memory from school and you will get some relatable replies. Some might recall the amusing experiments from the science lab, others might miss the creative art and craft class. But one thing that is cherished by many people is their lunch break.
Those happy moments when you savored meals and gossiped with friends in the cafeteria. Today, we’ve gathered pictures that show what schools from all over the globe have on their lunch menus. Keep scrolling to see how culture and location plays an important role in the diversity of school food. Get ready to feel hungry because some of the food on these plates looks absolutely delicious!
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
The University Lunch At Copenhagen University. 1.21€ Per 100 Gram
Kobe (she) 1 year ago
That looks delicious, healthy and affordable. That means that you can have a full lunch for like 6,50 - 8 euro.
karen snyder 1 year ago
Wow, you think an €8 lunch is "affordable" for a college student. Wish I had your college budget
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BoredPossum 1 year ago
Not sure how good the buffet will look after the first 100 students, but it looks like a healthy meal.
Edward Finger Hands 1 year ago
People say France has the best food. I always thought Italy did. Then I went to Copenhagen. I was blown away. This tracks.
As per World Health Organization (WHO) 2021 reports, approximately 41 million kids under the age of 5 are overweight globally. And, nearly 340 million children and adolescents aged 5–19 are overweight and obese. Studies show that childhood body mass index (BMI) and obesity are likely to continue into adulthood. Approximately 55% of overweight children go on to be obese in adolescence. There is an 80% chance that obese adolescents will still be obese in adulthood.
This increases the possibility for several diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. Childhood obesity has increased tenfold in the past four decades. Many school-going children consume a good amount of their food energy at the institute.
RELATED:
#2
My Korean School Lunch! Free For All The Students
Philly Bob Squires 1 year ago
As the politicians vote themselves a 40K per year raise.
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Joanne Earle 1 year ago
I am just not adventurous enough food wise to ever eat any of this or the first one in Copenhagen.
#3
My High School Lunch, A Beef Poke Bowl, California
sbj 1 year ago
I've always been led to believe that food in US High Schools is always terrible but this looks tasty
Foffy Skrimshaw 1 year ago
That is a stereotype that has historical merit. But some states are better than others.
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The food served for breakfast or lunch in schools is important as it impacts a child’s health. According to research, school food is considered more nutritious compared to other meals we get from different sources. The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) studied the diet quality of the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) that serves over 31 million children in the United States every day.
The study examined the quality of food eaten by 2,190 children who were selected as a representative sample nationally. Results indicated that the school-provided lunch had greater nutritional value compared to meals from elsewhere across both age and income categories.
#4
Korean Middle School Lunch. For Students It's Free, And For Teachers, Like Me, We Pay Around 50 Bucks A Month For 20 Meals. A Good Deal, Honestly
Peyton4ever 1 year ago
For a second I thought they were gonna say teachers pay 50 dollars per meal..😅
TheElderNom 1 year ago (edited)
When I was dabbling in teaching, lunch was free for teachers if you ate with the student, it was still very affordable if you ate in the staff room though.
#5
My Korean School Lunch Of Spicy Braised Chicken, Ham And Sausage Stew, And Various Side Dishes
Daya Meyer 1 year ago
This looks delicious, indeed. But I have always wondered what you do with those algae sheets. Are they supposed to be eaten seperately?
#6
Free School Lunch In Stockholm, Sweden
Giraffy Window 1 year ago (edited)
I don't like that the water melon is all snuggled in there like that, but otherwise this looks beautiful!
#7
Middle School Lunch - Honolulu
Ms.GB 1 year ago
It looks like a typical school lunch in the US. At least when and where I went to school.
Cassie 1 year ago
Nice. We never got fresh greens in ours. All the vegetables we got came out of a can.
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Awesome At Being Autistic 1 year ago
This looks lovely. We got green hot dogs with no toppings when I was in school.
#8
$1 Vegan Lunch At Brazilian University
HARRY KOPPERS 1 year ago
Beans, beans, good for the heart; The more you meat, the more you want...
#9
Lunch In A Public High School In Luxembourg (Filet Mignon)
karen snyder 1 year ago
Having a little mayonnaise with your fries, or a little fries with your mayonnaise?
Jack Burton 1 year ago
is that a slamon piece under the carots ? Salmon AND bacon ? And way too much mayonnaise. Not really a healthy lunch for kids. But i can see the chocolate rabbit so i guess it's special lunch for christmas or easter day. In France we also have great lunch at school for christmas but it does not look like a daily classic meal.
Spittnimage 1 year ago (edited)
What's that white square next to the yellow sauce and carrots? Palate cleanser? /j
Children who were not a part of the NSLP consumed approximately 58% more total fat and 60% more saturated fat. Their added sugar intake was double the amount than NSLP participants. On the other hand, NSLP students had better food-group composition and more fruits in their diet. Their meals were more favorable in macronutrients as well.
#10
School Lunch In California (Free). Zucchini, Radish, Avocado Slices, Grapefruit, Apples In The Bag, And A Bean And Cheese Burrito From A Local Restaurant. The Cafeteria Is Buffet Style
Bexxxx 1 year ago
That sucks! How many different Cali school lunches have you seen though? There are over 10,000 public schools in the state.
Load More Replies... #11
Free Lunch In Estonia (Northern Europe), Public School For Grades 1-12
First picture: spaghetti and potatoes, chicken, pork, vegetarian curry, turkey sauce, sweet potatoes, and roux gravy.
Second picture: carrots, vinaigrette, Chinese cabbage, and pea salads.
Third picture: radish and pear snacks.
Dark Pearl 1 year ago
my mum NEVER mentioned how good school lunches she got at home, she always just complains about her childhood
#12
School Lunch In Thailand, 25 Baht, About 0,75 USD
Bexxxx 1 year ago
The best meal I’ve ever had in my life was a huge cup of Tom yum soup, also 25 baht, from a vendor in Bangkok who had set herself up in an alley, with her stand made almost completely out of cardboard. It was so good I went back and gave her the last 60 baht I had in my pocket. Random story 😊
In order for children to consume healthy meals, many institutes in the world have implemented their own universal free school meal policies. This helps to ensure that every child, especially the ones from low-income households, gets access to free nutritious food.
Researchers have found an association between these free meals and reduced obesity in many places including California, Chile, and South Korea, among other places. The four boroughs in London that adopted the provision showed reduced levels of obesity as per the Observer.
#13
United States, Public Middle School
GhostlySnail (she/her) 1 year ago
I know! Wish mine looked half this nice lol
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TotallyNOTAFox 1 year ago
Can you really call it a school meal if there isn't any TruMoo™ present?
JustYourAveragePANda 1 year ago
Dang!!! That looks better than the best foods where my middle school is- like our best "dish" is some bread on "chicken" (rubbery and strangely colored...)
#14
Christmas Lunch In A French High School
Jack Burton 1 year ago
It's a special lunch to please the kids, every school do this before christmas holydays in France.
Jack Burton 1 year ago
That's one day on a all year, as a french kid you don't want to miss this one. Sodas and snacks are usually forbidden in french school.
Load More Replies... Nadine Debard 1 year ago
Smoked salmon and toasts, foie gras, cooked salmon and potatoes. There very likely were some vegetables options and the person didn't choose them. Spinach and rice most probably.
#15
$3 School Lunch: North Georgia
BTDubs 1 year ago
Judging by the use of English, i assume they're not talking about the European country.
TotallyNOTAFox 1 year ago
Given its a 3 Dollar meal may be a good hint, too
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Jack Burton 1 year ago
Absolutely not healthy for young kids, just do the maths, way too much sugar and fats...
flower petals 1 year ago
It looks like many things on the plate are fried.
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Dorian Gabriel 1 year ago
Pls note this tray is way smaller than the ones in other countries' pics lol....it looks jammed but it is not as much as you'd think
Ur Cupid Grookey 1 year ago
as a fellow north Georgia dweller... WHICH SCHOOL IS THIS CUZ IT'S NOT MINE
Jill Jones 1 year ago
I went to school in North Georgia USA and my lunch NEVER looked like that.
A study by the Institute for Social and Economic Research, University of Essex, revealed that the policy helped parents financially and also boosted reading skills in children as they were fed and focused.
In the USA, California was the first state to implement a statewide free meals program in the 2022-23 school year. School districts need to serve the K-12 students meals that follow the federal guidelines. As long as they do so, California’s Department of Education reimburses them for all the expenses that are not covered by the federal reimbursements, such as the costs of reduced-price meals. In the previous school year, the state also provided $150 million for staff training and kitchen infrastructure upgrades so that the implementation could happen smoothly.
#16
Private School Lunch In Montreal
Upstaged75 1 year ago
PRIVATE school is the key here. I'm sure the tuition is $$$$ so they expect nice meals.
David 1 year ago
Many private schools are Parochial Schools, which are low cost, like the average Catholic Parochial school in NYC where I live is $8,500 a year. I doubt they have fancy meals. There are many types of private schools, not all are fancy academies.
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Tempest 1 year ago
The teacher probably left the bell for a minute to grab their lunch (and return to a bell-less table)
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#17
University Lunch In Slovakia, 3,9€
OneHappyPuppy 1 year ago
That's a Wiener schnitzel and mashed potatoes, yeah I'd like some as well
#18
School Lunch In The Texas-Mexico Border
Jack Burton 1 year ago
Texas and Mexico are really good friend and close neighbour if you talk about poor food choice and overweight
#19
My High School Lunch. Clarification: This Is Orange County, CA. It's Also Free
Grace Knowlton 1 year ago
School lunches didn't look like any of these pictures when I was in school
Alexandra Hall 1 year ago
OC, I don't think that you are having the same experience that the public schools in MA are. Lucky you.
#20
Tennessee. (There Is A Pizza Under There Too)
Matthew Savestheworld 1 year ago
Tennessee and Georgia are next to each other. I think it is a southern brand
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Perfumista Perfumista 1 year ago
I think that's soup, but have not ruled out queso for the fries.
Load More Replies... Anony Mouse 1 year ago
This is likely what the student chose out of a variety. No school is giving kids pizza AND fries AND jello. Yes. There are several USA entries in this article that show a variety of fresh and healthy foods. Save it.
Load More Replies... Upstaged75 1 year ago
The student probably chose these items out of a selection of things. That's not a standard meal. Besides most kids in the US bring lunch from home anyway. No one is required to eat what the cafeteria serves. You have to pay for whatever you want. I know on days when I wanted to eat my feelings I'd buy pizza and fries, but usually I had a sandwich and fruit from my own house.
Load More Replies... #21
School Lunch In Japan. The Christmas Edition
Since 2023-24, free school meals are permanently available for all elementary and secondary public school students in New Mexico. Their legislation now includes an additional $20 million to fund the infrastructure improvements and encourage made-from-scratch meals.
Kendall Chavez, the governor’s food and hunger coordinator, announced that this bill is critical for “[s]upporting [New Mexico’s] local farmers, ranchers and food businesses and elevating school food as something that’s as important as the books that our kids are reading while they’re in school.”
#22
Lunches Served Last Week In Schools In Georgia, USA. They Are All From Different Schools
OneHappyPuppy 1 year ago
I'd take bottom left, I'm just curious what the black stuff is
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Alexandra Hall 1 year ago
Wow. No wonder these states are delusional. No public schools up north eat like this (as in, you have a Much nicer menu).
Mary Kelly 1 year ago
love the chicken fried-steak and black-eyed peas in the one!...way to say, i'm from the south without saying it
M O'Connell 1 year ago
All of these look pretty good! If they were laid out in front of me I'd probably choose the third one.
Tammy Malone 1 year ago
I worked at a public middle school in Georgia, USA and there are plenty of options for the students to eat, BUT most would just hit up the pizza line, go home hungry and complain to the parents.
#23
School Lunch In England - Cost £2.95
Negatoris Wrecks 1 year ago
What is it about mushy peas that just sucks the joy out of everything?
John Murphy 1 year ago
why yall still eating like a German bmber could take you out at any time?
#24
School Lunch Was Epic Today. This Is A Public School In The US
These school meal pictures show how geography also plays an important role in the food we consume. While some meals seem more nutritious than others, it’s great that educational institutions are now putting effort into making the lunches more healthy. What did you eat during recess in school? Share with us your favorite food from lunch break!
#25
Alabama Public High School Lunch
#26
Tired Of School Lunch Slander. I Go To A Public School In Pennsylvania, It Just Has Pretty Good Food
Passerby 1 year ago
To be fair, seeing some examples from this thread, some school lunches do deserve to be slandered and shamed.
Spittnimage 1 year ago
It was kind of them to separate the tomato sauce from the sandwich (seriously).
xolitaire 1 year ago
I'm still a bit confused about "public" and "private" schools, because in different countries, "public" means different things.
M O'Connell 1 year ago
In the US, a public school is government-funded and education is provided at no cost. Private schools are primarily tuition-funded and have limited admission (often run by religious or cultural organizations).
Load More Replies... #27
Elementary School Lunch In Japan
Hphizzle 1 year ago
It keeps them from sitting too long in the warm soup base before serving. Also helps each person get the same amount of noodles since students are in charge of serving the lunch to their classmates.
Load More Replies... sbj 1 year ago
That's a lot of food for a kid of elementary age to be eating no matter how healthy it looks
Hphizzle 1 year ago
Size of servings change with grade level. I can tell you with almost a decade of experience, the kids eat it, enjoy it, and are super healthy. They generally don’t eat again until dinner and are pretty active throughout the day.
Load More Replies... #28
USA: The Milk I Got During Lunch In High School. No, It's Not A Meat Cube
Upstaged75 1 year ago
I think the chocolate milk was frozen at some point and didn't thaw correctly.
Bit odd innit 1 year ago
This happens to me a lot in my school, we even use the same brand of milk
Jack Burton 1 year ago
America you are weird enough, please keep your solid brown milk for yourself.
SCP 4666 1 year ago
The milk asks itself the same question. I am in a milkbox therefore I am milk
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Bookworm5000 1 year ago
I had this exact milk brand in elementary school-----it's prob just frozen.
#29
Got Served This For Lunch At School In China. Help. Food Wasn't This Bad Until Recent Administrative Changes. I Just Had To Take A Picture When I Saw This Monstrosity
Screaming_Icecream 1 year ago
Omelette with clams sounds even fancy.... And then you see THIS and cannot unsee it!
Me Oh My (He/They) 1 year ago
What IS it? Looks like some sort of parasitic clam-beast.
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#30
American High School Lunch
Megan Curl 1 year ago
Blue cheese? Where’s the ranch? Because somehow we think ranch goes with pizza in the U.S.
LA Murphy 1 year ago
I know! It's more of a west coast thing, but ranch is an abomination. If you were to ask for ranch for your pizza back east, they would have told you to f off and leave.
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Richienotsorich 1 year ago
Americans: there's not a lot of taste...I'll just smother it in cheese. Then add some cheese. And top it off with cheese.
Giraffy Window 1 year ago
Yum! I remember how even the worst looking school pizzas could always hit just exactly right.
#31
This Wiener Soup We Had At School In Finland
viimatar 1 year ago
Depends entirely on whether it's a cheap school lunch or some real food - and it varies between schools abd municipalities. The quality has gone down back to the 90s' depression era meals, or even worse, which is something of an achievement. Sure, it's free, but more than half of the middle schoolers (grades 7 to 9) skip their meals. Wannna guess why?
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viimatar 1 year ago
As a side note: the sausage floats, and the rest of the ingredients are below it (usually carrot, potato, rutabaga, onion, seasoned with parsley). It isn't really that bad, in the end, quite savory... if made properly and from good ingredients. The plate in display is an example of bad manners - the first about dozen people on the line hog all the sausage bits and leave the rest about 50 with just the veggies, or even just the broth. Veggie lunch is modernly always available without separate notice requirement, at least in the city schools. (The special diets are catered for.)
Finnish Ewok 1 year ago
This is just a bad picture. And they have hogged all the sausages to their plate.
#32
These "Grilled" Cheese Sandwiches I’m Serving To The School Kids At Work. The Cheese Is Sticking To The Tray Like Glue. Lunch Starts At $3.75, USA
guyx23 #bringthemback 🇮🇱️ 1 year ago (edited)
Looks like "cheese" should also be in quotation marks
Philly Bob Squires 1 year ago
Looks like "cheese" should be in the garbage bin.
Load More Replies... Jack Burton 1 year ago
As a French i feel triggered when someone call this tile joint "cheese"
GhostlySnail (she/her) 1 year ago (edited)
Ah yes this is the most accurate representation of US school lunches on here, my friend :)
Load More Replies... Upstaged75 1 year ago (edited)
And this is why most kids in the US bring lunch from home! Unless the school is providing them with free meals due to poverty - in which case this is shameful.
LazyKitten 1 year ago
This looks more like the type of school lunches I get in NC (North Carolina)
#33
School Lunch In Russia (Free)
viimatar 1 year ago
This has a sweetroll (bun, or similar to Swedish kind of bulla) and tea. I think it's a snack, not a meal.
Themoonprincess 1 year ago
This reminds of the snl episodes where Kate Mckinnon plays a Russian woman named Olya.
Bookworm5000 1 year ago
As a Russian (although I live in the US) I can say confidentally that this is a snack.
#34
School Food Never Disappoints. This Is In France
Ms.GB 1 year ago
Burt hot dog and couscous? The couscous doesn't even look good.
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Ellinor 1 year ago
To be honest, the quality of school's food depends on if your school has a chief in the kitchen or if it uses the "central kitchen".
Carly Valois 1 year ago
Merguez with semoule (couscous in the states). When done right with garlic, it is freaking delicious.
Ms.GB 1 year ago
Yeah but that couscous looks plain...needs some herbs and seasonings.
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#35
USA: My School Thinks They Are Cool On Saint Patrick's Day
KDS 1 year ago
Just because it was St. Patrick Day it doesn’t mean they needed to dye the bread.
#36
My Free School Lunch, Ohio
First picture: ice cream (with sprinkles), fries, chicken tenders, garlic toast, and gravy. Second picture: mashed potato bites, chicken alfredo, and a cookie.
Sabrena Patterson 1 year ago
Is it just me? The second pictures description is not familiar to me. The words and the picture do not jibe. Maybe it is
#37
This Is What They Gave Us For Lunch. I’m A 160 Lbs Track Athlete, With Practice And Weight Training After School. This Did Little To Nothing To My Hunger Level. Glenwood Springs, Colorado
Cassie 1 year ago
Did you see the post with the TruMoo solidified? I'm not sure that's a bonus!
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David 1 year ago
This is the reason why the USDA in 2017 officially retracted the 2010 regulations that had max caloric servings that schools could give. This meant that Schools had to give the same food to a 5 foot tall 90lb student as to a 6"4 230lb athlete. Many coaches would order fast food for their athletes, as they needed the caloric intake. It also hurt low income kids who many used to eat 2-3 portions due to food insecurity at home. In 2017, the USDA, retracted those restrictions, switching to the more vague appropriate caloric intake a student needs. But some states kept the old regulations, causing issues like this
Upstaged75 1 year ago
I wonder if this student is on meal assistance? I've never seen such a sparse lunch before - even free ones. And why can't they bring fruit and snacks from home if they're an athlete and need something before practice? I know I always did.
BoredPossum 1 year ago
A burger, artery-clogging sauce and true Moo, no veggies... not optimal for kids, let alone athletes.
#38
Free School Lunch In Washington, US
#39
Brazilian School Lunch. It's Coconut Milk And Some Crackers. They Actually Give Us Real Food Some Lunch Days But When There're Not Enough Kitchen Workers They End Up Having To Cut Corners
WindySwede 1 year ago
They usually get get round, when staffed, they can cut circles. 🤭
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#40
USA: My Mom Is A Teacher At My Former Elementary School And She Sent Me A Photo Of Her Lunch
WindySwede 1 year ago
And why the fat free milk? We had a trend if fat free products in the 90th.. 🤷♂️
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Upstaged75 1 year ago
Teachers are welcome (and most do) bring their lunch from home. That's standard in the US.
LA Murphy 1 year ago
Empty carbs, fat free chocolate milk is just sugar with no healthy fats, unidentifiable meat swimming in salt soup called "gravy" slapped on no fiber white bread. And not even a full apple? What schools get in tax dollars goes to administrative glut to justify all the bs degrees we have now.
Hmmm hmmmm 1 year ago
Why is the milk fat free but still CHOCOLATE. It's like they're trying to make it healthy but then adding chocolate to it . Whyyyy
Fairytails From Other Worlds 1 year ago
Why do they have chocolate milk with lunch? Isn’t that like a sugary snack in the afternoon?
and_a_touch_of_the_’tism 1 year ago
Hey that’s the milk we get! Food and tray looks nothing like it though
#41
I Paid 4,32€ For Lunch At My University In Italy
Upstaged75 1 year ago
Tomatoes in the sauce? ;) And potatoes are veggies aren't they? LOL!
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Awesome At Being Autistic 1 year ago
That's an outrageous price to be charging for food that poor.
#42
School Lunch In Canada
JustAnotherPanda (she/they/he) 1 year ago
Don’t hate me for this…but since I am not a fizzy drink person, I prefer Pepsi for its calm fizzy and its sweetness.
Kraneia The Dancing Dryad 1 year ago
Kinda surprised they allow soda with lunch. At my high school the soda machine was locked up until after school. They didn't allow students to buy it during school.
Load More Replies... xolitaire 1 year ago
I'm sorry but those potatoes look like they have been cooked and re-heated several times
MoriahPapaya 1 year ago
I could be wrong, but they appear to be pierogies, pasta stuffed with potato often served with onion and sour cream.
Load More Replies... #43
My School Thinks This Fills Up Hungry High Schoolers. It’s American High School In Albany, New York
Lunches are free for schools in my city and surrounding cities. Ever since lunches have been made free, the quantity (and quality) has decreased significantly. This is what we would get for our meal. It took me three bites to finish that chicken mac and cheese. Any snacks you want cost more money, and if you want an extra entree, that’ll cost you about $3 or $4.
TeenieMeanie 1 year ago
I’m from Utica and I’ve never heard of that expression.
Load More Replies... Upstaged75 1 year ago
Which is why most kids bring lunch from home instead of eating that stuff.
David 1 year ago
USDA regulations require schools to provide Milk to students to ensure students get enough calcium (plus we have a powerful dairy lobby), however Schools were throwing away too much milk, as not enough was being consumed. Since the USDA never specified what type of cows Milk, many switched to Chocolate Milk, which led to most students consuming and the schools meeting their required USDA numbers. USDA says it works, because students get the Calcium, and they do not care about the sugar and chocolate added to make that happen
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#44
USA: My School's "Chicken Strips"
Pink kitty 1 year ago (edited)
Maybe it's strips that look like chicken not strips of chicken?
#45
Since We Are Sharing Our School Lunches. It Was On Thanksgiving And It Cost $5
Kiss Army 1 year ago
I work in a prison... pretty sure our Thanksgiving meal is better.
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Upstaged75 1 year ago
It should be noted that if this costs $5 they could have just brought lunch from home.
Awesome At Being Autistic 1 year ago
Grey meat. Yep, that's the school lunches I grew up with.
Giraffy Window 1 year ago
Where are the carrots, peas, corn, sweet potato? You're not going to poop ever again on this kind of food.
#46
The American School System Calls This A Lunch. You’re Not Allowed To Pack Lunch At My School
OneWithRatsAndKefir 1 year ago
Why wouldn’t you be allowed to pack your own lunch? Genuine question, is there an actual good reason for it or is it just one of those rules that exist for the sake of being a rule?
and_a_touch_of_the_’tism 1 year ago
I see two possible reasons, to prevent allergens, or to prevent someone from smuggling weapons in.
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weatherwitch 1 year ago
What exactly am I looking at? I don't recognise the long thing nor the round flat thing it's on? Two tea spoons of veg, absolute overkill. This is very poor 😕
Hiram's Friend 1 year ago
Assigning this one bad lunch from one school to the whole US is wrong.
#47
The "Stuffed Potato" Lunch At My Son's High School, America
#48
My Son Works At A Fairly Prestigious Charter School. This Is What They Served High School Kids For Lunch. Santa Ana, CA
GK 1 year ago
"A lot of his students are low income, with a good amount of foster kids. This might be the biggest meal they get all day." "They do in fact have a real kitchen. They just buy these weird pre packed things in bulk instead of using the kitchen. I think they don’t have any kitchen staff."
Awesome At Being Autistic 1 year ago
For kindergarteners, maybe, but certainly not for high school kids.
Upstaged75 1 year ago (edited)
Once again - most kids in the US bring lunch from home. Mostly because the school food is gross.
xolitaire 1 year ago
A whole pack of RAISINS?! What are kids supposed to do with that, many don't even like raisins
viimatar 1 year ago
Eat, maybe? Neither does everyone like carrots. A bag of mini carrots, like, why? The same thing, reversed. I'd take the raisins over the carrots (raw or cooked) any day.
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#49
Free School Lunch In Finland
viimatar 1 year ago
Mashed potatoes, sure, though it looks watery... but what those round things are supposed to even be, beats me. Maybe minced meat patties? And note, I've seen a few decades' worth of Finnish school lunches. This is a low point.
Load More Replies... WindySwede 1 year ago
It's only the nations they compare, not the people living there? 🤷♂️ (as I understand, I could of course be wrong)
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Roan The Demon Kitty 1 year ago
mashed potato and schnitzel of some description? I've had some good Finnish food but wtf is this. At least, afaik, Finnish schools have mandatory fruit and veg, too.
#50
School Lunch In America. That Is BBQ Chicken, Not A Chocolate-Glazed Donut. This Cost $3-4
nottheactualphoto 1 year ago
Pale yellow microwaved chicken puck, smothered in ketchup + soy sauce. Mmm-mm.
Upstaged75 1 year ago
Again - if it costs money they have the option of not buying it and bringing lunch from home.
Cassie 1 year ago
You speak from a place of privilege. Most kids don't have choices, they have to follow their caregiver's choices, and a lot of them get school lunches supported by subsidies due to low income, so have no choice but to eat what is given to them by the school. School's need to do better, but politicians in many states are actively denying funding for school lunches.
Load More Replies... #51
USA: Our School Can’t Afford Hamburgers, So They Give Us Beef Nuggets On Rolls To Save Costs
#52
A Lovely Cheese And Bacon Baguette From My School’s Canteen. I'm From The UK
#53
My Swedish School Tried To Make Fish N' Chips
TotallyNOTAFox 1 year ago (edited)
I think there was a slight translation error... (Chips being what the UK calls crisps)
#54
The US School Lunch System Is Disgraceful
BoredPossum 1 year ago
Apparently there's a huge variation. Some of these posts have great lunches too.
Upstaged75 1 year ago
I keep having to repost this, but most kids in the US bring lunch from home!
BTDubs 1 year ago (edited)
I just feel like most of the other entries treat children with some dignity, except the US. Most of the European ones have lunches on plates or metal trays, instead of Styrofoam, for example. I'm not even going to talk about the quality of the lunches served, that stuff looks vile.
#55
I Present My School's Breakfast “Cheese Burger,” Just Cheese And Bun. This Is In Taiwan
Li’l E. 1 year ago
Can someone please tell me what the brown egg-shaped thing is? Is it a pickles hard-boiled egg?
Tempest 1 year ago
It’s called a tea egg. Wikipedia: Tea egg is a typical Chinese savory food commonly sold as a snack, in which a boiled egg is cracked slightly and then boiled again in tea, and sauce or spices. It is also known as marble egg because cracks in the egg shell create darkened lines with marble-like patterns.
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Stardust she/her 1 year ago
When my parents were in the US they got a “cheeseburger” like this because the McDonald’s they went to didn’t have any vegetarian options
#56
Actual School Lunch. High School In America
BoredPossum 1 year ago
So portions for adults are oversized and portions for kids, who grow up, not out, are microscopic? Does not compute.
#57
My School Lunch Today In The US (Florida)
#58
The Best School Lunch Option Today. I Live In The US
#59
This Is The "Food" We're Supposed To Eat At School In America, Massachusetts
#60
What My American School Considers A "Chicken Taco", Not Free
Upstaged75 1 year ago
And if it's not free you have the option of brining lunch from home - which is what most kids do.
Dorian Gabriel 1 year ago
You keep saying this over and over as if you completely don't realize that this lunch is the only meal that a lot of kids get. Schools provide food, not just education. Poor people exist, Sharon.
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What do you think ?
Agfox 1 year ago
" Intriguing School Lunches From Every Corner Of The World" - leaving aside Australia, New Zealand, most of SE Asia, the Indian sub-Continent, the Middle East, Africa etc
Tempest 1 year ago
Maybe some places don’t have a school lunch system. In my country schools have canteens but no school lunch system, neither free nor paid, exists. The canteen doesn’t have any proper meals, it is largely food items which are like those served at food trucks at a carnival (cheap junk food/local snacks) or stuff like biscuits and juice/milk cartons, all to be purchased by the students. Most students who depended on canteen food would buy 2-3 of several items to get a filling meal. Luckily for my dietary restrictions my parents always gave me a packed lunch, which, sometimes even in its most excess quantities (it was usually such a lot of food that I often shared with my friends) made me hungry by the end of the school day so I can’t even imagine how those who depended on the canteen food lasted.
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Deirdre Segraves 1 year ago
For the US ones, it would have made a big difference if they included the city/school district. Would be a lot more telling and informative because, clearly, we see a huge difference between all the US Meals.
talliloo 1 year ago
live in the midwest in usa. school lunches here are individually prepped plastic trays that are sent to the schools to be warmed up. they also provide breakfast which is more 'traditional' as in cold cereals, bagels, fruit, milk, etc. it is ridiculous that so many schools here no longer have 'lunch ladies' that actually prep meals for the kids. not only would it provide employment but it could be real food, not processed c**p. when i attended from 1st thru 12 the morning home room would tally how many would be eating school lunches and food was adjusted accordingly to limit waste. it wasn't free back then but kids had choice to help w/kitchen for their lunches.
and_a_touch_of_the_’tism 1 year ago
Worst lunch I’ve even seen (didn’t get it because I value my life and my bowels): I forget what they called it but it was boiled shredded chicken in some horrifying thin, watery red sauce and that melted fake nacho cheese poured over tater tots. A fried was offered $10 to chew and swallow a whole bite, she got up and spat it out.
GB 1 year ago (edited)
When I was a kid, we had something similar that we called, "barbecued barf on bun". (San Francisco Bay Area, California)
Load More Replies... Agfox 1 year ago
" Intriguing School Lunches From Every Corner Of The World" - leaving aside Australia, New Zealand, most of SE Asia, the Indian sub-Continent, the Middle East, Africa etc
Tempest 1 year ago
Maybe some places don’t have a school lunch system. In my country schools have canteens but no school lunch system, neither free nor paid, exists. The canteen doesn’t have any proper meals, it is largely food items which are like those served at food trucks at a carnival (cheap junk food/local snacks) or stuff like biscuits and juice/milk cartons, all to be purchased by the students. Most students who depended on canteen food would buy 2-3 of several items to get a filling meal. Luckily for my dietary restrictions my parents always gave me a packed lunch, which, sometimes even in its most excess quantities (it was usually such a lot of food that I often shared with my friends) made me hungry by the end of the school day so I can’t even imagine how those who depended on the canteen food lasted.
Load More Replies... Deirdre Segraves 1 year ago
For the US ones, it would have made a big difference if they included the city/school district. Would be a lot more telling and informative because, clearly, we see a huge difference between all the US Meals.
talliloo 1 year ago
live in the midwest in usa. school lunches here are individually prepped plastic trays that are sent to the schools to be warmed up. they also provide breakfast which is more 'traditional' as in cold cereals, bagels, fruit, milk, etc. it is ridiculous that so many schools here no longer have 'lunch ladies' that actually prep meals for the kids. not only would it provide employment but it could be real food, not processed c**p. when i attended from 1st thru 12 the morning home room would tally how many would be eating school lunches and food was adjusted accordingly to limit waste. it wasn't free back then but kids had choice to help w/kitchen for their lunches.
and_a_touch_of_the_’tism 1 year ago
Worst lunch I’ve even seen (didn’t get it because I value my life and my bowels): I forget what they called it but it was boiled shredded chicken in some horrifying thin, watery red sauce and that melted fake nacho cheese poured over tater tots. A fried was offered $10 to chew and swallow a whole bite, she got up and spat it out.
GB 1 year ago (edited)
When I was a kid, we had something similar that we called, "barbecued barf on bun". (San Francisco Bay Area, California)
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