Teens Share What American School Lunches Look Like, The Rest Of The World Loses Their Minds

American schools have been providing lunches to students for more than 100 years, with Philadelphia and Boston being the first two cities to offer meals to students in 1894. Over the years, it has helped many families by unburdening them from part of their food costs and the time that it takes to prepare a meal to bring to school.

However, the nutritional aspect of it is questioned time and time again, and recently, this issue was brought up again by foreign students, who shared the unenviable state of American school lunches in one of their TikTok videos. The snippets of their school lunches ignited quite a discussion, with some people even comparing the meals to those that individuals get in prison. Scroll down to check them out for yourself, and be sure to leave your thoughts in the comments below, too.

The nutrition of school lunches is questioned time and time again

Child reaching for carrots on a tray with American school lunches featuring veggies and fruit cups in a cafeteria setting

Image credits: U.S. Department of Agriculture (not the actual photo)

Recently, these foreign students reignited the discussion about this when they shared the school lunches they had to eat in America

Two teens smiling on a bus showing reactions to American school lunches described as progressively worse over a week

Image source: @lo_aux_us

American school lunch tray with a sandwich, potato wedges, baby carrots, ketchup packets, and chocolate milk carton.

Image source: @lo_aux_us

American school lunch tray with pasta, bread roll, and chocolate fat free milk carton on a gray table.

Image source: @lo_aux_us

American school lunches featuring chili with chips, baby carrots, tomato slice, and chocolate milk carton on tray.

Image source: @lo_aux_us

American school lunches with packaged peanut butter sandwich, pretzels, chocolate milk, and canned peach slices on a tray

Image source: @lo_aux_us

American school lunch tray with a sandwich, baby carrots, celery sticks, and a fruit punch juice box on a table.

Image source: @lo_aux_us

Schools only get about $1.30 to feed each child

School lunch staff serving American school lunches with mini pepperoni pizzas to children in a cafeteria line.

Image credits: U.S. Department of Agriculture (not the actual photo)

At first, school meals in America were introduced to educational institutions to reduce food insecurity, which simply means making food more accessible to students. In 2010, the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act was established to make food not only accessible but also nutritious and healthy. These implemented standards limit the amount of salt, fat, and calories and ensure that meals are enriched with whole grains, fruits, and vegetables.

Even though the standards are there, the reality is that school lunches are far from being healthy or nutritious. Just like the featured TikTok video has shown, school meals are often poorly put together with an array of prepackaged foods that are served to students.

A 2009 investigation by USA Today even found that the meat quality served in US schools is worse than in fast food restaurants, and the majority of vegetables that cafeterias should be feeding children mostly contained French fries. 

The main reason why this is happening is money. Federal subsidies are barely covering the costs that are required to buy and make the food. Each school only gets about $1.30 to feed each child, so it’s no surprise that, to fit the tight budget, schools have to compromise on food quality.

1 in 4 school meals are of poor nutritional quality

Teenagers in an American school cafeteria eating lunch, showcasing typical American school lunches and dining environment.

Image credits: U.S. Army Europe (not the actual photo)

According to the School Nutrition Association, nearly 30 million American students eat school lunch every day, which comes to about 60% of all public school students. That’s more than half the students who deserve to eat nutritious and healthy foods while learning.

“Access to nutritious and appealing school lunches is crucial for the health and academic success of our nation’s children,” said the senior vice president of ProCare Therapy, Stephanie Morris.

Currently, the students aren’t receiving the healthy school lunches they need. This is evident in ProCare Therapy’s 2024 report, where the most popular school foods included crispitos, pizzas, burgers, bosco sticks, chicken nuggets, sloppy joes, and other carb-loaded but non-nutritious foods. 

What could be done to improve school lunch programs is to increase the budget and fairly stick to the US school nutrition standards. While there’s been a lot of progress over the years of trying to regulate sodium and sugar levels, schools should get more funding for fresh produce and healthy food options and be held more accountable with regular inspections, as to this day, 1 in 4 school meals are of poor nutritional quality. Even small changes in school nutrition policies can help students live longer, healthier lives. 

Some people were appalled by the American school lunches

Comment from a teen reacting to American school lunches, describing them as junk foods with over 20,000 likes.

Social media comment questioning American school lunches, highlighting unusual meal combinations like a burger with chocolate milk.

Comment reading first world country by user Monkey D Goku with 4940 likes on a social media post about American school lunches.

Alt text: Teen expressing horror over American school lunches with milk as a drink, sparking global reactions online.

Comment reading this cant be serious reacting to teens share what American school lunches look like post.

Comment on social media post saying Are you in jail by user _lucynthesky17, receiving 457 likes in a discussion about American school lunches.

Comment from teen expressing shock about American school lunches compared to other countries’ meals.

Comment from social media user feyyi saying it’s so unhealthy, related to American school lunches discussion.

Comment on American school lunches humorously described as prison food, highlighting teens sharing their school lunch experiences.

Comment asking if water is illegal, highlighting reactions in a teens share American school lunches discussion.

Comment on social media about American school lunches with crying emojis reacting to public health care access.

Comment saying bro that's not lunch those are snacks, highlighting reactions to American school lunches from teens online.

Comment on American school lunches reading chocolate milk and pasta with clown and eyes emojis, showing reactions.

While others thought they weren’t that bad

Comment on a social media post about American school lunches, highlighting surprise and gratitude for provided food.

Comment on teens sharing what American school lunches look like, expressing surprise about free food availability.

Teen shares positive comment about American school lunches, highlighting enthusiasm and approval from students.

Teen commenting on American school lunches, reacting to meal choices compared to other countries' expectations.

Others also shared about their own school lunches from different countries

Comment on social media asking to search Hungarian school food, related to teens sharing what American school lunches look like.

Comment from Liia expressing gratitude for having Ukrainian school lunch, relating to teens sharing what American school lunches look like.

Comment on social media about junk food being banned in Mexican schools related to teens sharing American school lunches.

Comment from Sonja expressing gratitude for free school lunches in Finland, related to teens sharing American school lunches.

Teen sharing opinion on American school lunches compared to Polish school lunch featuring cabbage soup discussion.

Comment expressing difficulty surviving a day eating American school lunches, shared in an online discussion.

Comment from a user expressing pride in Argentinian real food in response to teens sharing what American school lunches look like.

Comment from Laurence expressing horror about American school lunches, reflecting teens sharing their experiences.

Comment from user theaa asking if others have seen New Zealand school lunches, related to teens sharing American school lunches.

Comment on social media post saying Americans eat better in prisons, reflecting teens sharing what American school lunches look like.

Teen shares a harsh opinion on American school lunches, sparking strong reactions worldwide.

Comment from user expressing craving for Korean school lunch and valuing it as the main reason to attend school, about American school lunches.

Comment comparing American school lunches unfavorably to prison food in the Philippines, expressing surprise and criticism.

Comment from user ShadowMilkCookiesTightCervix joking about American school lunches calling chicken kickin tenders due to its rubbery texture.

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