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30 Photos Of School Lunches From Around The World That Couldn’t Be More Different
Kids can form better eating habits when schools provide them with healthy food, but unfortunately, not all of these establishments are capable of doing so.
There's a notion that students from the US or the UK usually walk to their cafeteria in disdain while their Asian peers are getting served mouth-wateringly fresh meals.
But is this always the case?
To show you that not everything is black and white, we at Bored Panda put together a list of photos that reveal what schools from all over the world put on their plates. Bon appetit! (Or not.)
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
My Korean School Lunch Of Udon, Egg And Pork Cutlet Deopbap, And Various Banchan
RELATED:
#2
Here's My Awesome Korean School Lunch! Schools Have A Qualified Nutritionist To Plan The Lunch Menu
We managed to get in touch with a few folks from South Korea, a country that dominates the top of this list, to learn more about their menus.
One of them is Reddit user u/darkrealm190. "My school doesn't really serve one thing the most because they do a super big variety!" they told Bored Panda. "It takes about 2 weeks before something repeats. However, there are some constants, like they always have rice, some soup or stew, and banchan (side dishes in Korean) and [some] protein!"
u/darkrealm190 said the overall quality of the food was good. "It's definitely not bland, extremely healthy, and widely varied."
In fact, they couldn't even think of how the catering could be improved. "It's as good of a school lunch as anyone could need or want," u/darkrealm190 said. "I would also like to add that the lunch is free to all the students!"
#3
My Korean School Lunch Of Crab Soup, Braised Chicken And Potatoes, And Various Banchan
#4
This Is What Swedish School Lunch Looks Like
#5
My Free School Lunch Today In Finland
The other Redditor we talked to was u/StiffCrustySock and they gave us a similar description. "There is (almost) always rice, kimchi, and some kind of soup. Then, a Korean-style protein of some kind, most often pork-based ... [but we also sometimes have] 'Western-style' foods like burritos, a slice of pizza, spaghetti and sauce, etc," they told Bored Panda. "There will usually be a fruit of some kind as well."
"Overall, the school's food is excellent, I enjoy about 95% of it. And compared to other schools around the world I've seen, I'm glad to have this quality lunch."
However, u/StiffCrustySock would like a small change. "[They could] probably reduce the salt content and aim for less carbohydrates in each meal. Otherwise [everything's] pretty healthy."
The Redditor also suggested giving Korea's kitchen a go if you find yourself drooling over their pictures. "Everyone should try Korean food if they get the chance. The flavors are excellent."
#6
Today Was Veggie Burger And Sweet Potato Fries For Lunch In The School's Cafeteria In Germany
#7
Typical School Lunch In South Korea
#8
School Lunch From My Country. Where Am I? France
You could make a case that the quality of school food somewhat correlates with kids' health. In the United States, for example, the percentage of children and adolescents affected by obesity has more than tripled since the 1970s and in 2017–2018, an estimated 19.3% of those aged 2 to 19 years were obese.
The CDC said that a comprehensive approach is needed to address this issue in schools, especially for elementary and middle school students. Scientists know less about what school-based obesity prevention approaches are effective for teens.
The term 'comprehensive approach' means directing attention to nutrition and physical activity in schools and involving school nurses, parents, caregivers, and other community members (like pediatricians and after-school program providers) in the process. But we are yet to see any meaningful results.
#9
My Finnish School Lunch (Vegetarian)
#10
School Christmas Lunch In Finland (Free)
#11
School Lunch In Sweden
#12
Public School Lunch In Minnesota
#13
School Cafeteria Lunches In Finland
#14
Public School Lunch In Sweden
#15
My School Lunch In Beijing, China
#16
My School Lunch. It Was Very Nice. UK
I-Hate-Everyone 3 years ago
Must be a private school because public school dinners in UK don't look like that. I went to public school and we were never served anything like that ever
#17
Breakfast At A Public Charter School, Austin, Texas
#18
Some Pictures Of My School Lunch In Japan. Nutritious And Delicious, Japan Knows How To Feed Their Kids
ForgotMyPWSendHelp 3 years ago
I'm sure it's good if the person says so, but the photo doesn't make it look like it.
#19
The School Lunch From A Elementary School In Colombia
#20
Food In One Of The Moscow Schools. It's Macaroni And Cement I Guess
#21
My Swedish School Lunch (100% Free)
#22
My School Likes To Do Fruit Water In Our Dining Hall. So Today We Got Jalapeño And Pineapple Water
#23
Lunch At A Korean Elementary School
#24
School Lunch In America Since We’re Posting School Lunches
#25
The Vegetarian Option For Bolognese At My School Is Literally Just A Bag Of Ketchup
Earl Grey 3 years ago
I don’t understand the concept of a vegetarian Bolognese, since Bolognese is a complex ragù that is centered around ground beef, pork or veal.
Higgleton 3 years ago
Which is why you end up with a bag of tomato sauce!
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Trina Acosta 3 years ago
I dont know why I found this so f*****g funny 🤣but also...my American lunches were basically microwave pizza and powdered potatoes ...I guess I grew up in the wrong time and location
Vicky Z 3 years ago
Well, there is no such thing as vegetarian bolognese so i guess that's the closest you can get
Cathy 3 years ago
I use soy mince and it's delicious. I'm not actually a vegetarian, but I since I tried it I just don't bother to buy meat for my bolognese or lasagna.
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MimSorensson 3 years ago (edited)
Um… where would this be? In a parallel universe where ketchup is bolognaise? I’m sorry, friend, that sucks.
Sunny Topia 3 years ago
My teacher made spaghetti for my class for final year party. And it taste and look better than this pic xD.
viola paissoni 3 years ago
A Bolognese vegetarian option is not an option. The cook obviously wanted to punish whoever believed the contrary. 😀
lazy panda 3 years ago
Lol when I was in school, they'd use left over nacho cheese from basketball games to make "grilled cheese" sandwiches the next day. I 100% believe this
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#26
Are We Still Doing Lunch? This Is The Teacher Lunch At My School. All This Was For $4.50
#27
What A School In UK Calls A Hotdog
#28
My School Serving Almost Raw Pizza
#29
The Cheese They Put On Our School's Hamburgers
#30
Complaining About School Lunches? Here's My School's "Philly Cheese Steak"
Felix Feline 3 years ago
This is why I would sometimes blackout in elementary school. I refused to eat that kind of thing, and in the afternoon I would faint from hunger.
#31
School Lunch In Denmark
#32
The Quality Of Everyday Free School Lunch In Finland
#33
How About Lunch At A Hong Kong Secondary School?
#34
Happy National Cereal Day From My School
T. D. Bostick 3 years ago
Cereal Day? It sounds like they made up a holiday as an excuse to put cereal in their food.
#35
School Lunch, Didn’t Leave A Crumb
#36
Pizza From My School. Not Gonna Lie, It Was Alright
#37
Apparently A School Lunch
#38
A Single Cauliflower In A Single Use Plastic Wrap From A School Lunch
#39
Raw Chicken In My International School In Thailand
#40
I See Your Korean Private School Lunches And Give You Maryland Public School Lunch
#41
My School's Take On "Grilled Mac'n'cheese". And Yes, It Was As Dry As It Looks
#42
Sliced Ham In A Beautiful Bread Served By My School's Cafeteria. Near £2 For This, Could Get A Ready Meal For Cheaper
#43
My Kid's School Lunch Today. Pancake Sausage Burger With Cheese
#44
The Waffles At My High School Can Break Forks. All I Did Was Try To Cut It. It's The US And They Don't Allow Plastic Knives Here
Becky Samuel 3 years ago
How out-of-control violent does a country have to be that it doesn't allow cutlery in schools?
#45
My School Meal
#46
'general Tsos' School Lunch
M O'Connell 3 years ago
I'd like to imagine whoever made that fried rice was given a list of the ingredients, but not a method of preparation.
#47
School Lunch Today Was Chicken Nuggets In A Hotdog Bun
#48
My School's Free Turkey Lunch For Christmas
#49
My School’s Idea Of Dessert Is Three Pieces Of Cereal In A Half Cup Of Yogurt
#50
Pizza From Our Local School. And It Cost 3€ (Slovakia, Eastern Europe)
#51
"Sausages" (I Think) At My School
#52
School Food. I Am From Sweden
#53
My School Serves The Highest Quality Cuisine
#54
School Lunch At Its Finest
#55
Ordered A Grilled Cheese From School's Dining Hall
#56
Some Kid’s School Lunch
#57
School's Turkey Looks Like Cat Food
M O'Connell 3 years ago
Usually people are joking when they say that kind of thing, but this REALLY does look like cat food.
#58
Mashed Potatoes We Got At School Today
#59
"Food" At My School In America. Spaghetti And Emptied Balls
#60
This Is The Syrup Bowl At My Boarding School In UK Breakfast. They Call Me Crazy For Bringing My Own Bottled Syrup But Now They Understand Why
#61
Beef And Cheese Casserole At School
#62
Our School Canteen Last Week - Fish Fillet With A Lentil Salad. Czech Republic
#63
My School Lunch. Chicken Nuggets And Mashed Potatoes
#65
Middle School Lunch (Hawaii)
#66
My American School's Lunch. It's "Steak And Cheese"
#67
My School's Mac And Cheese
#69
A Hamburger Patty At The Local High School
#70
One Of The Chicken Sandwich At Our School Is Hollow From The Inside
#71
Our Breakfast At School This Morning. Yes That’s One Piece Of Bacon Folded. No, There Were No Alternatives, And Any Sides Cost Extra
#72
School Lunch
#73
This Ruined Pizza For Me
#74
My School Cafeteria's Attempt At Chicken And Waffles
#75
Chicken Fingers Served At My School In Alabama Recently
Rose the Cook 3 years ago
What is with all the undercooked chicken? The kids must have cast iron stomachs.
#76
University Cafeteria Serving Something For The Crust Lovers Today
#77
Chicken Parm Sandwich At My School
#78
My School Lunch. Paid $3.25 For This
#79
BBQ Chicken With Buttered Corn
#80
Today's Lunch At My Child's Elementary School
#81
My School Lunch Expected To Keep 15-18-Year-Olds Fed For The Whole Day
Foxxy (The Original) 3 years ago (edited)
In Australia you either have to bring lunch and snacks from home or have money to spend at the canteen which is like a small version of a corner shop but in school and selling things like chips (crisps), sausage rolls, mini pizza, ice blocks, sandwiches or homemade style spag bol etc. Most people bring lunch from home coz it's much cheaper.
#82
"Scrambled Eggs" At My School's Cafeteria
#83
This Hotdog My School Was Selling For £1.85 (UK)
#85
My School Served Moldy Bread Today
Rattus Norvegicus 3 years ago
if i have to put up with this when my cafiteria opens, im getting the next plane ticket for japan
#86
Refried Beans
#87
My School’s Rendition Of Chicken And Waffles
#88
My School's Ramen
#89
My School Cafeteria Calls This The Walking Taco, Beef, Cheese, Salsa, And Fritos Tossed Up In The Bag
#90
My School’s Lunch. It Costed 8$. Montreal, Canada
#91
"Pizza" My School Served Us On The Morning Of SAT Testing. It’s Meat, Not A Mold. The Plastic Just Makes It Look Worse Than It Already Is
#92
My School's Excuse Of A Burger
#93
My School Lunch
#94
What My School Thinks Is An Acceptable Lunch For High School Kids. USA
#95
This Was My Lunch At An American School Since We’re Doing Photos Of School Lunches Now
#96
School Mac And Cheese Topped With Pulled Pork
#97
My School Lunch, Processed Cheese And A Square Of Mystery Meat
#98
My Friend's School Lunch. I Saw The Other Post And Thought I Would Post My Own. It's A Pizza Bagel Thing
#99
My School's Lunch
#100
My School Ran Out Of Chicken For Orange Chicken, So They Used Chicken Nuggets Instead
#101
Our $5.00 School Lunch Today (North Eastern Ohio)
#102
My School’s Egg Salad
#103
Here's One Of My Nutritional School Lunches
M O'Connell 3 years ago
Aren't Chili and cheese two important food groups. They are in Chicago :D
#104
My Lunch Was Called A "Chunky Monkey"
#106
School Food In New Jersey
#107
I See Your Finnish, And Swedish School Lunch, And I Raise You Our USA School Lunch
#108
Zucchini Quesadilla With Sour Cream And Salsa, Courtesy Of High School Cafeteria. Tasted Okay No Bamboozle
#109
Genuinely How My School Packages Their Chips. They Just Gave Me Four. I’m In The UK
#110
"Tuna Pizza" From My School Lunch Today In Japan. I Feel Like This Belongs Here
#111
School Lunch Is A Beautiful Thing. Real-Life Mystery Meat. It Was Supposed To Be A "Burger"
#112
Nobody: "....." School Lunch:
#113
Saw A Pic Of School Lunch, Here's Mine, A Bag Of Chips With Non Melted Cheese. I'm A Senior In High School
#114
My School's Christmas Lunch (US)
#115
Mmm School Lunch
#116
My School's Pizza. It's Basically Just A Piece Of Bread With Tomato On It
#118
$4.50 Well Spent. Thanks School
#119
Got Pizzas For An Event At School. This Is The Vegetarian Pizza
ForgotMyPWSendHelp 3 years ago
This is from a restaurant. No idea which, but the box is a giveaway. I'd ask for my money back.
#120
Glistening School Pizza
#121
School Is Giving Out Free Frozen Lunches. Turkey With Gravy And Sweet Potatoes
#122
School Lunch In Sweden, Fish And Cornflakes
#123
“Philly Cheesesteak”. My School’s On The Southern Border In The US
M O'Connell 3 years ago
"Wiz" is an acceptable (traditional) cheese choice for a cheesesteak, though provolone is much better.
#125
Another School Lunch Delicacy. Spicy Chicken Sandwich
#126
Since We're Posting School Lunches (USA)
M O'Connell 3 years ago
I can't imagine a reason other than "Washington State" that you would have a meal with two different preparations of apples.
#127
This Was The Lunch That My $40k Per Year School Served Today (Private High School In USA)
#129
School Lunch Today. USA
#130
My School Had This Good Looking Sandwich Until
#131
Grilled Cheese
#132
My School Put Out A Bowl For You To Put Your Fruit Into If You Aren't Going To Eat It. They Put It Back Out The Next Day. I'd Imagine This Came From There
#133
This Was Today’s NYC Public School Lunch
#134
This Is The Lunch My School Makes Me Pay For
#135
My Wife Forgot Her Lunch Today. The School Cafeteria Kindly Gave Her, A Teacher, A School Lunch
#136
I Was Told This Belongs Here. My School Served This "Pizza" Yesterday
#137
What Free School Lunch Looks Like
Oopsydaisy 3 years ago
Would I be right if I assumed that these school lunches are maybe the only substantial meal that poor students might get in a day? How do they expect these kids to learn?
#138
Whoever Thought That A "Cheese Sandwich" Would Be A Nourishing Meal For The Low-Income Kids (Who May Rely On School Meals) At The School I Work At
#140
My School Served Queso Mashed Potatoes Today
#141
Lunch Is A Little Disappointing At My School In Ohio
Earl Blueberry 3 years ago
It's like they haven't gone shopping in a month and a half, just threw the dredges of their pantry together and called it "Lunch." Naasty
#142
My Roast Beef And Cheese Sandwich For School Lunch
#143
Ham And Cheese “Sandwich” At My School
#144
My School Strikes Again With Its 5 Star $2.30 Grilled Cheese
#145
Schools Lunch. Grilled Cheese And Baby Carrots
#146
Mold In School Food. They're Feeding This To Kids
Tamsin Far 3 years ago
Honestly, this can just happen when there is a little hole in the seal - even fare before the foods due date.
#148
Served This At Lunch Today At My School. Tasted Like Paper
#149
Since My School Is Going Online, The School Provides Weekly Lunches. Here's One Of Them
#150
Amazing Entree From My School
#151
Elementary School "Green Eggs And Ham". This Is USA, It Was For Dr. Seuss' Birthday
#152
This Is Supposed To Be A Hamburger
#153
This Corn Soup With Popcorn We Had In Our School This Week
#154
My School's "Mashed" Potatoes
#155
My School’s $7 Take On Avocado Toast
Kevin Beard 3 years ago
Wow, that is literally less than a dollar's worth of food. 20 cent egg, 25 cents of avocado, 20 cents of bread. WTF?
#156
Raw Chicken At School
#157
The Sandwiches Our School Sells
#158
Depressing School Lunch
#159
My School's Attempt At "Meat" (South Eastern PA)
#160
Elementary School Lunch In Chesapeake, VA (Minus The Cupcake I Brought)
#161
My Mate's Lunch At School In Australia. And Yes, That Sandwich Is Just Buttered Bread
#163
Not As Bad As Others But My School's Quesadilla
#164
Yo Wtf?
#165
Wtf Is This
#166
I Present, The Average Lunch At My School In Us That’s Supposed To Last Me 6 Hours. It’s $3.50
#167
And You Thought Your School Lunch Was Bad
#168
A Slice Of Pizza From School
#169
Ladies And Gentlemen, My School Lunch (Tasted Worse Than It Looks)
#171
My School's "Pizza"
M O'Connell 3 years ago
Who signed off on "matzo, sauce and cheese; uncooked, served cold" as a school meal?
#172
Christmas Dinner At School In Britain. I Paid Money For This
Brandi Pinkston 3 years ago
At least you can (kinda) tell what the components are supposed to be....
#173
My School's Try At Making Burgers. Netherlands
#174
My School’s Attempt At “Grilled Cheese”
Huddo's sister 3 years ago
That's what my family called 'melted cheese on bread' growing up- all done in microwave so it was soggy lol
#175
My School Calls This "French Toast With Sausage"
#176
My School’s Chicken Nuggets
#177
"Chicken & Waffle" At My School
#178
Is School Lunch Considered Cheating? Because School Lunch Should Be Considered Cheating
#179
Gotta Love School Lunch Fries
#180
"Vegetarian Sub" At My High School
#181
Somehow, This Is Considered A Lunch
#183
School In Gave Us “Hotdogs” For Lunch, Which They Reheated From Last Week. This Is Disgusting And Not Healthy For Anyone. New Jersey
The color had gotten dark and the hotdog was wrinkled and stale.
#184
My School's Chicken And Waffles
#185
School "Burger" With Potatoes And Peanut Butter (California)
#186
School Lunch At My High School In Mid-Western America (Free)
#187
The Pickle Sushi That My School's Dining Hall Served Has LED Me To Reject My Faith Because No Benevolent God Would Ever Let This Abomination See The Light Of Day
#188
School Breakfast
#189
The Quesadillas They Served Us During Lunch In School
#190
Saw Someone Post Their School Lunch So I Thought I’d Share Mine. NC, United States. For Reference Those Are Cheese Sticks
Add New Image
What do you think ?
Zedrapazia 3 years ago
Seems like eating lunch in Korea is quite awesome, considering how many pictures revolve about the country's dishes.
Chinmayee Kalghatgi 3 years ago
I came here for learning about different food kids eat around the world but midway through i thought that this was supposed to be a school lunch shaming post
Wouter 3 years ago
People complaining about their crappy school restaurant food. Meanwhile, in Holland, they get their 4 slices of wholewheat with sweaty cheese out of the backpacks that was put next to the heater all morning. Wrapped in the saddest and flimsiest of all plastic bags, the 'boterhamzakje'. It even sounds depressing. CZ3q4GVWAA...373ea5.jpg 
WilvanderHeijden 3 years ago
I'm very happy that you explicitly stated that this is only in Holland. In the rest of the Netherlands students enjoy decent home packed lunches in real lunchboxes. Sucks to to be a Hollander.
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Naesil 3 years ago
Being from Finland most of these photos just make me sad... most of the things I wouldnt even consider as a lunch, some barely even food, and students have to pay for those? For some kids from poor families school lunch might be the only meal they get during the day.
Kat 3 years ago
In the school my kids go to, the food is prepared by parents in the school. We wash and cut up pieces of fruit and raw veggies for snacks during breaks, make fresh soup and a variety of sandwiches. In non-covid times, sitting together and eating as a group is part of the school experience. Once a month on Friday we (used to) fire up the barbecue after school and just all hang out and eat there. Parents, kids, school staff... We Really miss it
M@rlow_the BLINK 3 years ago
THIS is why I brought food from home (I'm not going to lie tho, the Korean food made my mouth water)
Caroline Nagel 3 years ago
The dinner ladies at US schools must feel so ashamed having to serve that crap. Most first world countries manage to serve their puplis/students proper food, how come it's not possible in the USA, the self proclaimed best country in the world?
Solar_Eclipse 3 years ago
The budget for schools went to military and politicians.
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Miguel Payano 3 years ago
Puerto Rican school luch is the best, wholegrain rice with beans, cornbeef, fried sweet plantains, fruit, milk and juice. Everything locally grown and some ingredients grown at school by students. I miss this. It was a shock when i moved to NYC and had to eat cold, dry cheese sandwich for a year😑 and on top of that i had to paid for the damm thing.
Denise .Russell 3 years ago (edited)
What is extremely sad is that there are kids who either go hungry or actually eat most of that because their family doesn't have enough for them to bring or make something from home. I, sadly, was one such kid. I LOATHED grade school lunches save for when I went to school in New Mexico for two years--all lunches were both free and fresh made every day. High school was the worst, and staff should have clued in on that when kids went first to the taco truck that parked outside then the Walgreens that was built across the street.
Paola Martz 3 years ago
In Mexican public schools you either bring lunch from home or starve. They don't offer lunches. Some schools have "cooperativas" that are some people selling food inside the school (third parties, not provided by the school, they have to pay a fee to sell there). It's usually very unhealthy food, and then again, if you don't have money you just starve
Martha Meyer 3 years ago (edited)
Looking at the "lunches" in the lower half of this post, makes me think the school lunches I got as a kid weren't so bad... Those Koreans need to export school lunch nutritionists to the rest of the world though!
ForgotMyPWSendHelp 3 years ago
While they're at it, can they just export some of those lunches to my house please?
Load More Replies... Glirpy 3 years ago
What's really depressing is all the single-use styrofoam and plastic trays and containers.
John 3 years ago
That's what is really depressing to you?! Not the millions of children having to eat the awful food provided to them on that styrofoam? Let's have some decent priorities please.
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hii 3 years ago
Well school lunch here in our country is not bad but the thing is it's not for free. Like we have to pay for everything and it costs much, luckily we have a variety of foods to choose from plus it tastes good so it's not like you get robbed. But I rarely buy some lunch in our school ever since the prices got high so my mom always cooks lunch for me 'cuz it's more money saving considering that I live in a big family lol.
Sasy 3 years ago
This is just horrible, if the food is that bad but parents are paying that amount for it, why the hell are they not just bringing food from home, most Aussie kids in my day brought lunch and added on at the tuck shop - we don't do cafeterias we just have a shop in the school you buy from, all sorts of sandwich options fully robust sandwiches or rolls, we had pies or sausage rolls and fresh milk in cartons and flavoured mineral waters. Those ones with prices were a disgrace someone is cooking more than food, but also the books.
Kori Chamberlain 3 years ago
The reusable dishes where really striking. I'm in the US, and remember when my elementary school transitioned from reusable trays to styrofoam. We used to drop the trays off with the dishwasher before heading off to recess. They were replaced by two trash cans that were always over flowing. That was probably 1999-2000. A big issue here has been privatizing public services. Paying somone else to do something so the local government doesn't have to worry about. Except, the private company has to turn a profit for this to make any sense, so they either raise the prices or cut the costs via quality/labor. Its so obviously less efficient, and we have decades worth of examples from school lunches to prisons. Those before me where dupped into beliving a private company could provide better services, even though logic could not have possibility led to that conclusion.
Annalye Shin 3 years ago
I just think it's funny that the American dream is to get tf out of America and this is a legitimate reason why
Kori Chamberlain 3 years ago
It would be cool if we could just make it better here, but having a minimum of 30% of the population opposed to it for various misguided reasons gets too frustrating for many.
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Cathie Mcdowell 3 years ago
In Canada, kids have to bring their own lunch and there is usually a list as long as you our arm of foods that are banned in schools. Banned foods are all nut butters, eggs, milk, bananas, fish, and in my dds class all berries due to allergies… basically send her with ice cubes now
Huddo's sister 3 years ago
Wow! We are not allowed nuts in Australian schools, but any other allergies are solved by kids not allowed to share food!
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Lovin' Life 3 years ago
American schools need to step up their games. The food is not healthy, usually drenched in a ton of margarine, not appetizing at all, slop for pigs look tastier, and are so expensive, around $5+ a day. It's ridiculous! That's why I always packed my kids lunch. ALWAYS!!!
Devin Nassar-Reis 3 years ago
Long story short, in the US, we serve crap, and there needs to be a balance between quality and quantity.
Carol Emory 3 years ago
Then they wonder why school grades are slipping. Hard to concentrate on an empty stomach.
Veronica Sjöberg 3 years ago
I loved school lunch as a kid (swede) and I'm proud of that, but it isn't "free", it's because of higher taxes. And I think it's a great example to prove that higher taxes means that all citizens can have a better standard in life overall. Sure, there are still people (including children) who live in our version of poverty (not the same as starving, not having a roof over your head or afford clothes but can't afford going on vacation or pay for activities). But at least the taxes can provide things like a good school lunch for children, "free" higher education (I say "free" because 1) taxes 2) we don't have any tuition but in most cities the cost of living is higher than what you can borrow money for (student loans) and textbooks are expensive so most students need to work as well) and healthcare for all.
Jordyn 3 years ago
We have pretty high taxes in the US, too, especially in states like New York, California and Connecticut. The problem is we don't allocate that money properly. It all goes towards the military and politicians.
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jam jam 3 years ago
In Romania we don't even get a lunch break. The usual 10 min break between classes. In every school the kids get bread and milk or bread and an apple (frozen in winter). And when you get to highschool you don't get anything anymore and you have classes from 8:00 or 9:00 a.m. till 14:00 or 15:00 p.m. just with those breaks of 10 min. and teachers will get angry if you still eat if they enter the classroom. Then you get at home at 16:00 p.m. and get a lot of homework to do. This is how my highschool years were. I don't have many memories from that time.
Winna Libert 3 years ago
I'm sorry that sounds like a tale..of course I'm not saying it is, it just sounds so awful it's hard to believe it could be true.
Load More Replies... Rose the Cook 3 years ago
Raw chicken, overcooked or undercooked mysteries, plastic masquerading as cheese and pathetic pizza. Do these schools employ real cooks or volunteers? Obviously they need to take lessons from the Koreans.
bxttery_bxby 3 years ago
In some of these I'm seeing actual plates and cups and utensils and stuff. At my school, we use styrofoam and plastic. Someone broke a plastic tray over someone's head one time and another person stabbed someone with a fork/
Lisa Karampasa 3 years ago
No lunches or breakfasts in schools in Greece. Only what you bring from home or at the school kiosk (just ready made unhealthy stuff). I am amazed at what other countries offer.
Annie Bieber 3 years ago
My elementary school in LA had no cafeteria, when I moved to Illinois to live w/my Grandparents for a while my first "dinner" as they called it, was 🐓 and dumplings with the dumpling cut by a cookie cutter in the shape of a Chicken...I thought that was the coolest thing ever & can still memory taste it...it was delicious. 💜💛✌
Atia Janssens 3 years ago
I remember school lunch in Germany. We had meat or vegetarian. I always took vegetarian. Used to be something different each day, like soups or lasagna or pizza or salads. They did well
Lady Purple 3 years ago
lack of showing the lunch in public schools in Brazil. Here they serve feijoada and pasta at 9 am (obviously not both together, but you get the idea)
deathrose 3 years ago
My schools in Louisiana has real food like jambalaya and gumbo, good crusty bread, chicken and dumplings. The schools would hire stay at home moms to work the cafeteria. This was public school. It was also 10+ years ago.
Winna Libert 3 years ago
I remember going to a school back in the 80's that was like this..it was a school out in the country (VA, I believe).
Load More Replies...
RandomHumanBean 3 years ago
now im huuuuungry. i literally dont eat sometimes and only eat apples o something (in the us) cuz its SO GROSS. literally, once my friend's corn dog was dark grey and my other frient's chicken nuggets were bright pink and rubbery. eEeEw
FABULOUS1 3 years ago
Pizza day in elementary school was my favorite. However I remember times that we didnt get a lunch at all because my mother couldnt afford it and when she was able to send us to school with lunch I was always embarrassed by it sadly. As I got older I realized the struggle is real, but also that kids still go with out lunches at school because their parents cant afford it.
Eb 3 years ago (edited)
Kids (except S Korea and Scandinavia), in the words of Matilda: that's not right, and if it's not right, you've got to put it right ... Sometimes you've got to be a little bit naughty. And when they teach you about climate change and sustainability, have a word about the appalling amount of plastic packaging.
Pat Bond 3 years ago (edited)
Got to 100. The Scandinavian schools have the best lunches for my taste hotly followed by the French, Korean, Japanese and Chinese lunches. Most of them served up on proper plates with steel knife & fork & spoon for dessert. They all looked superb. I was quite shocked by some of the slops served up in some of the alleged 1st world countries and expected to eat with hands or plastic cuttlery.
T. D. Bostick 3 years ago
Yeesh! Maybe there wouldn't be as many school shootings in the US if the students were fed decently. I'm so glad I brought my lunch from home each day.
ForgotMyPWSendHelp 3 years ago
I know you're just making a joke, but it's not funny. School shootings are a result of a lax gun culture and not taking mental health seriously. Kids being murdered in school just isn't something to laugh about.
Load More Replies...
Kim Robinson 3 years ago
I grew up in America with school lunches. I don't remember any of them looking anything like that! Pizza, chicken nuggets. We lived for getting to high school to go off campus to buy lunch at fast food places
Melissa Bryan 3 years ago
We live in Maine, USA & with some of things my sons school makes, I pack his lunch. 30 years ago when I graduated school lunches were pretty good in Maryland where I went to school. They have really taken a nosedive since then. The school doesn't even smell good when I've had to stop by when they are cooking some of the food.
jBeachey 3 years ago
If you posted a pic of your food from the US…you should put the name of your school. They could get shamed for it and things might change if enough people do it!
jBeachey 3 years ago
Create a fake account first that way they can’t find you, lol
Load More Replies...
A perfect Nightmare 3 years ago
I don't even get cafeteria food because at my school you need a special card for which you have to pay AND you need to order your food one week earlier. Otherwise you won't get any food from the cafeteria. I live in Germany.
Adrian 3 years ago
Not when I was a kid - a ham and cheese sandwich was enough. I wanted to get out and play with my mates. Eating big meals like most of these, and I'd be having a sleep for most of the afternoon. Seems like they are in societies where the midday meal is the main meal for the day. Ours was in the evening.
Huddo's sister 3 years ago
It really depends where you are. In the UK lunch is called dinner and is the main meal of the day. In Australia the main meal is in the evening usually (though in some migrant families maybe not). Most students used to take sandwiches for lunch, but now there is often raw veg, sushi, leftovers kept warm in a thermos, yoghurt, fruit and sandwiches.
Load More Replies... Maureen Laneski 3 years ago
There were some school lunches that I LOVED. When I started subbing, it was so nice to enjoy them again.
Miss Jakson 3 years ago
This brought up some deep buried memories from kindergarten when they would take us to the basement, and feed us stuff like dry spaghetti and stale bread with tea, all served in tin dishes with that metal taste, and we where only allowed spoons....whenever I remember about that I feel like I'm reliving a past life in prison.... For the rest of my school year the only meal we where getting, where a carton of milk and a small bread roll, sometimes apples /wafers or digestive biscuits
Jessica N 3 years ago
My high school didn't have hot lunch, if you didn't have food at home to bring the office ladies would give a peanut butter sandwich that they brought in from home. Middle school however had pretty much what you see on a prison cafeteria line, mystery meat white bread and canned veggies and fruit cocktail. Most of these are so foreign to actual school lunch!
Leo Domitrix 3 years ago
This is why I took my lunch, meager as it was. Way safer than the Cafeteria Roulette. Thursday was always "Monday Tuesday Wednesday leftovers in "stew"," whereas Friday was fish, so there was that. Yeah, I ate little, but at least I knew what it was.
Cuervo 3 years ago
The worst food are from big democrat run cities like chicago. The only good food item when I was in CPS were the butter cookies.
Cuervo 3 years ago
In chicago we have the biggest alley rats, worst school food, and highest killing rates.
Load More Replies... 
NotMe 3 years ago
Schools in my country don't even offer food at all. I never ate anything that resembled even the gross pics in this post. I spent my entire childhood eating chips and salsa during lunch breaks (as most of my classmates) and I thought it was normal. So depressing.... On the other hand, way to go Korea! :')
Pilot Chick 3 years ago
I was amazed by the amount of food in these lunches u til I found all the us photos in the second half of this list. Those where what I remembered.
David de Fortier 3 years ago
First time i even knew that schools served lunch. My days at school, we had to bring our own food from home.
EveWasTaken 3 years ago
Back when I was in school we didn't even have school lunch. I finished school 12 years ago.
8Pillows 3 years ago
The posts that state "free lunch" are misinformative. Citizen taxes pay for those lunches. Governments don't do things for free.
Winna Libert 3 years ago
Ok, I'd rather pay more in taxes and have my children's school lunches be so good🤷
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Veronica Sjöberg 3 years ago
It's for elementary and high school when it's free (at least the Scandinavian ones, we pay for our own lunch at university and you usually bring your own food because it's cheaper)
Load More Replies... ForgotMyPWSendHelp 3 years ago
Try not calling people stupid for suffering from malnutrition.
Load More Replies... Zedrapazia 3 years ago
Seems like eating lunch in Korea is quite awesome, considering how many pictures revolve about the country's dishes.
Chinmayee Kalghatgi 3 years ago
I came here for learning about different food kids eat around the world but midway through i thought that this was supposed to be a school lunch shaming post
Wouter 3 years ago
People complaining about their crappy school restaurant food. Meanwhile, in Holland, they get their 4 slices of wholewheat with sweaty cheese out of the backpacks that was put next to the heater all morning. Wrapped in the saddest and flimsiest of all plastic bags, the 'boterhamzakje'. It even sounds depressing. CZ3q4GVWAA...373ea5.jpg
WilvanderHeijden 3 years ago
I'm very happy that you explicitly stated that this is only in Holland. In the rest of the Netherlands students enjoy decent home packed lunches in real lunchboxes. Sucks to to be a Hollander.
Load More Replies... Naesil 3 years ago
Being from Finland most of these photos just make me sad... most of the things I wouldnt even consider as a lunch, some barely even food, and students have to pay for those? For some kids from poor families school lunch might be the only meal they get during the day.
Kat 3 years ago
In the school my kids go to, the food is prepared by parents in the school. We wash and cut up pieces of fruit and raw veggies for snacks during breaks, make fresh soup and a variety of sandwiches. In non-covid times, sitting together and eating as a group is part of the school experience. Once a month on Friday we (used to) fire up the barbecue after school and just all hang out and eat there. Parents, kids, school staff... We Really miss it
M@rlow_the BLINK 3 years ago
THIS is why I brought food from home (I'm not going to lie tho, the Korean food made my mouth water)
Caroline Nagel 3 years ago
The dinner ladies at US schools must feel so ashamed having to serve that crap. Most first world countries manage to serve their puplis/students proper food, how come it's not possible in the USA, the self proclaimed best country in the world?
Solar_Eclipse 3 years ago
The budget for schools went to military and politicians.
Load More Replies... Miguel Payano 3 years ago
Puerto Rican school luch is the best, wholegrain rice with beans, cornbeef, fried sweet plantains, fruit, milk and juice. Everything locally grown and some ingredients grown at school by students. I miss this. It was a shock when i moved to NYC and had to eat cold, dry cheese sandwich for a year😑 and on top of that i had to paid for the damm thing.
Denise .Russell 3 years ago (edited)
What is extremely sad is that there are kids who either go hungry or actually eat most of that because their family doesn't have enough for them to bring or make something from home. I, sadly, was one such kid. I LOATHED grade school lunches save for when I went to school in New Mexico for two years--all lunches were both free and fresh made every day. High school was the worst, and staff should have clued in on that when kids went first to the taco truck that parked outside then the Walgreens that was built across the street.
Paola Martz 3 years ago
In Mexican public schools you either bring lunch from home or starve. They don't offer lunches. Some schools have "cooperativas" that are some people selling food inside the school (third parties, not provided by the school, they have to pay a fee to sell there). It's usually very unhealthy food, and then again, if you don't have money you just starve
Martha Meyer 3 years ago (edited)
Looking at the "lunches" in the lower half of this post, makes me think the school lunches I got as a kid weren't so bad... Those Koreans need to export school lunch nutritionists to the rest of the world though!
ForgotMyPWSendHelp 3 years ago
While they're at it, can they just export some of those lunches to my house please?
Load More Replies... Glirpy 3 years ago
What's really depressing is all the single-use styrofoam and plastic trays and containers.
John 3 years ago
That's what is really depressing to you?! Not the millions of children having to eat the awful food provided to them on that styrofoam? Let's have some decent priorities please.
Load More Replies... hii 3 years ago
Well school lunch here in our country is not bad but the thing is it's not for free. Like we have to pay for everything and it costs much, luckily we have a variety of foods to choose from plus it tastes good so it's not like you get robbed. But I rarely buy some lunch in our school ever since the prices got high so my mom always cooks lunch for me 'cuz it's more money saving considering that I live in a big family lol.
Sasy 3 years ago
This is just horrible, if the food is that bad but parents are paying that amount for it, why the hell are they not just bringing food from home, most Aussie kids in my day brought lunch and added on at the tuck shop - we don't do cafeterias we just have a shop in the school you buy from, all sorts of sandwich options fully robust sandwiches or rolls, we had pies or sausage rolls and fresh milk in cartons and flavoured mineral waters. Those ones with prices were a disgrace someone is cooking more than food, but also the books.
Kori Chamberlain 3 years ago
The reusable dishes where really striking. I'm in the US, and remember when my elementary school transitioned from reusable trays to styrofoam. We used to drop the trays off with the dishwasher before heading off to recess. They were replaced by two trash cans that were always over flowing. That was probably 1999-2000. A big issue here has been privatizing public services. Paying somone else to do something so the local government doesn't have to worry about. Except, the private company has to turn a profit for this to make any sense, so they either raise the prices or cut the costs via quality/labor. Its so obviously less efficient, and we have decades worth of examples from school lunches to prisons. Those before me where dupped into beliving a private company could provide better services, even though logic could not have possibility led to that conclusion.
Annalye Shin 3 years ago
I just think it's funny that the American dream is to get tf out of America and this is a legitimate reason why
Kori Chamberlain 3 years ago
It would be cool if we could just make it better here, but having a minimum of 30% of the population opposed to it for various misguided reasons gets too frustrating for many.
Load More Replies... Cathie Mcdowell 3 years ago
In Canada, kids have to bring their own lunch and there is usually a list as long as you our arm of foods that are banned in schools. Banned foods are all nut butters, eggs, milk, bananas, fish, and in my dds class all berries due to allergies… basically send her with ice cubes now
Huddo's sister 3 years ago
Wow! We are not allowed nuts in Australian schools, but any other allergies are solved by kids not allowed to share food!
Load More Replies... Lovin' Life 3 years ago
American schools need to step up their games. The food is not healthy, usually drenched in a ton of margarine, not appetizing at all, slop for pigs look tastier, and are so expensive, around $5+ a day. It's ridiculous! That's why I always packed my kids lunch. ALWAYS!!!
Devin Nassar-Reis 3 years ago
Long story short, in the US, we serve crap, and there needs to be a balance between quality and quantity.
Carol Emory 3 years ago
Then they wonder why school grades are slipping. Hard to concentrate on an empty stomach.
Veronica Sjöberg 3 years ago
I loved school lunch as a kid (swede) and I'm proud of that, but it isn't "free", it's because of higher taxes. And I think it's a great example to prove that higher taxes means that all citizens can have a better standard in life overall. Sure, there are still people (including children) who live in our version of poverty (not the same as starving, not having a roof over your head or afford clothes but can't afford going on vacation or pay for activities). But at least the taxes can provide things like a good school lunch for children, "free" higher education (I say "free" because 1) taxes 2) we don't have any tuition but in most cities the cost of living is higher than what you can borrow money for (student loans) and textbooks are expensive so most students need to work as well) and healthcare for all.
Jordyn 3 years ago
We have pretty high taxes in the US, too, especially in states like New York, California and Connecticut. The problem is we don't allocate that money properly. It all goes towards the military and politicians.
Load More Replies... jam jam 3 years ago
In Romania we don't even get a lunch break. The usual 10 min break between classes. In every school the kids get bread and milk or bread and an apple (frozen in winter). And when you get to highschool you don't get anything anymore and you have classes from 8:00 or 9:00 a.m. till 14:00 or 15:00 p.m. just with those breaks of 10 min. and teachers will get angry if you still eat if they enter the classroom. Then you get at home at 16:00 p.m. and get a lot of homework to do. This is how my highschool years were. I don't have many memories from that time.
Winna Libert 3 years ago
I'm sorry that sounds like a tale..of course I'm not saying it is, it just sounds so awful it's hard to believe it could be true.
Load More Replies... Rose the Cook 3 years ago
Raw chicken, overcooked or undercooked mysteries, plastic masquerading as cheese and pathetic pizza. Do these schools employ real cooks or volunteers? Obviously they need to take lessons from the Koreans.
bxttery_bxby 3 years ago
In some of these I'm seeing actual plates and cups and utensils and stuff. At my school, we use styrofoam and plastic. Someone broke a plastic tray over someone's head one time and another person stabbed someone with a fork/
Lisa Karampasa 3 years ago
No lunches or breakfasts in schools in Greece. Only what you bring from home or at the school kiosk (just ready made unhealthy stuff). I am amazed at what other countries offer.
Annie Bieber 3 years ago
My elementary school in LA had no cafeteria, when I moved to Illinois to live w/my Grandparents for a while my first "dinner" as they called it, was 🐓 and dumplings with the dumpling cut by a cookie cutter in the shape of a Chicken...I thought that was the coolest thing ever & can still memory taste it...it was delicious. 💜💛✌
Atia Janssens 3 years ago
I remember school lunch in Germany. We had meat or vegetarian. I always took vegetarian. Used to be something different each day, like soups or lasagna or pizza or salads. They did well
Lady Purple 3 years ago
lack of showing the lunch in public schools in Brazil. Here they serve feijoada and pasta at 9 am (obviously not both together, but you get the idea)
deathrose 3 years ago
My schools in Louisiana has real food like jambalaya and gumbo, good crusty bread, chicken and dumplings. The schools would hire stay at home moms to work the cafeteria. This was public school. It was also 10+ years ago.
Winna Libert 3 years ago
I remember going to a school back in the 80's that was like this..it was a school out in the country (VA, I believe).
Load More Replies... RandomHumanBean 3 years ago
now im huuuuungry. i literally dont eat sometimes and only eat apples o something (in the us) cuz its SO GROSS. literally, once my friend's corn dog was dark grey and my other frient's chicken nuggets were bright pink and rubbery. eEeEw
FABULOUS1 3 years ago
Pizza day in elementary school was my favorite. However I remember times that we didnt get a lunch at all because my mother couldnt afford it and when she was able to send us to school with lunch I was always embarrassed by it sadly. As I got older I realized the struggle is real, but also that kids still go with out lunches at school because their parents cant afford it.
Eb 3 years ago (edited)
Kids (except S Korea and Scandinavia), in the words of Matilda: that's not right, and if it's not right, you've got to put it right ... Sometimes you've got to be a little bit naughty. And when they teach you about climate change and sustainability, have a word about the appalling amount of plastic packaging.
Pat Bond 3 years ago (edited)
Got to 100. The Scandinavian schools have the best lunches for my taste hotly followed by the French, Korean, Japanese and Chinese lunches. Most of them served up on proper plates with steel knife & fork & spoon for dessert. They all looked superb. I was quite shocked by some of the slops served up in some of the alleged 1st world countries and expected to eat with hands or plastic cuttlery.
T. D. Bostick 3 years ago
Yeesh! Maybe there wouldn't be as many school shootings in the US if the students were fed decently. I'm so glad I brought my lunch from home each day.
ForgotMyPWSendHelp 3 years ago
I know you're just making a joke, but it's not funny. School shootings are a result of a lax gun culture and not taking mental health seriously. Kids being murdered in school just isn't something to laugh about.
Load More Replies... Kim Robinson 3 years ago
I grew up in America with school lunches. I don't remember any of them looking anything like that! Pizza, chicken nuggets. We lived for getting to high school to go off campus to buy lunch at fast food places
Melissa Bryan 3 years ago
We live in Maine, USA & with some of things my sons school makes, I pack his lunch. 30 years ago when I graduated school lunches were pretty good in Maryland where I went to school. They have really taken a nosedive since then. The school doesn't even smell good when I've had to stop by when they are cooking some of the food.
jBeachey 3 years ago
If you posted a pic of your food from the US…you should put the name of your school. They could get shamed for it and things might change if enough people do it!
jBeachey 3 years ago
Create a fake account first that way they can’t find you, lol
Load More Replies... A perfect Nightmare 3 years ago
I don't even get cafeteria food because at my school you need a special card for which you have to pay AND you need to order your food one week earlier. Otherwise you won't get any food from the cafeteria. I live in Germany.
Adrian 3 years ago
Not when I was a kid - a ham and cheese sandwich was enough. I wanted to get out and play with my mates. Eating big meals like most of these, and I'd be having a sleep for most of the afternoon. Seems like they are in societies where the midday meal is the main meal for the day. Ours was in the evening.
Huddo's sister 3 years ago
It really depends where you are. In the UK lunch is called dinner and is the main meal of the day. In Australia the main meal is in the evening usually (though in some migrant families maybe not). Most students used to take sandwiches for lunch, but now there is often raw veg, sushi, leftovers kept warm in a thermos, yoghurt, fruit and sandwiches.
Load More Replies... Maureen Laneski 3 years ago
There were some school lunches that I LOVED. When I started subbing, it was so nice to enjoy them again.
Miss Jakson 3 years ago
This brought up some deep buried memories from kindergarten when they would take us to the basement, and feed us stuff like dry spaghetti and stale bread with tea, all served in tin dishes with that metal taste, and we where only allowed spoons....whenever I remember about that I feel like I'm reliving a past life in prison.... For the rest of my school year the only meal we where getting, where a carton of milk and a small bread roll, sometimes apples /wafers or digestive biscuits
Jessica N 3 years ago
My high school didn't have hot lunch, if you didn't have food at home to bring the office ladies would give a peanut butter sandwich that they brought in from home. Middle school however had pretty much what you see on a prison cafeteria line, mystery meat white bread and canned veggies and fruit cocktail. Most of these are so foreign to actual school lunch!
Leo Domitrix 3 years ago
This is why I took my lunch, meager as it was. Way safer than the Cafeteria Roulette. Thursday was always "Monday Tuesday Wednesday leftovers in "stew"," whereas Friday was fish, so there was that. Yeah, I ate little, but at least I knew what it was.
Cuervo 3 years ago
The worst food are from big democrat run cities like chicago. The only good food item when I was in CPS were the butter cookies.
Cuervo 3 years ago
In chicago we have the biggest alley rats, worst school food, and highest killing rates.
Load More Replies... NotMe 3 years ago
Schools in my country don't even offer food at all. I never ate anything that resembled even the gross pics in this post. I spent my entire childhood eating chips and salsa during lunch breaks (as most of my classmates) and I thought it was normal. So depressing.... On the other hand, way to go Korea! :')
Pilot Chick 3 years ago
I was amazed by the amount of food in these lunches u til I found all the us photos in the second half of this list. Those where what I remembered.
David de Fortier 3 years ago
First time i even knew that schools served lunch. My days at school, we had to bring our own food from home.
EveWasTaken 3 years ago
Back when I was in school we didn't even have school lunch. I finished school 12 years ago.
8Pillows 3 years ago
The posts that state "free lunch" are misinformative. Citizen taxes pay for those lunches. Governments don't do things for free.
Winna Libert 3 years ago
Ok, I'd rather pay more in taxes and have my children's school lunches be so good🤷
Load More Replies... Veronica Sjöberg 3 years ago
It's for elementary and high school when it's free (at least the Scandinavian ones, we pay for our own lunch at university and you usually bring your own food because it's cheaper)
Load More Replies... ForgotMyPWSendHelp 3 years ago
Try not calling people stupid for suffering from malnutrition.
Load More Replies...
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