It’s important that growing children eat healthy, but judging by the appearances of some school lunches out there, it doesn’t seem like schools like to deliver the goods. But the Sweetgreen restaurant chain released a series of school lunch comparisons from countries around the world, giving us a look at how culture and geography can affect the diversity and healthfulness of school lunches.
From a US or UK perspective, the school lunches in many other countries seem mouth-wateringly fresh and varied. The lunches from Brazil and South Korea especially stood out for their delicious-looking variety. In other countries, unfortunately, lunch ladies have earned reputations as distributors of foul, toxic concoctions.
Let us know in the comments – which lunch looks the best to you? What did your childhood school lunch look like?
More info: sweetgreen.com | Tumblr | Instagram (h/t: dailymail)
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lol... this is definetely what the creator thinks school lunches are... because i am greek and let me tell you, we have no school lunches.
lol! my thoughts exactly.. Maybe in some private school, who knows..
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I'm from Finland and I have NEVER seen anything like that in schools! :D It's totally different in real life.
this is ridiculous! not even in private schools in Brazil children will eat like this! most of them don't even have lunch in schools
America's school lunch looks absolutely pathetic compared to those other school lunches.
First of all the school lunches shown are not real school lunches. Second, in most countries there are no school lunches.
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would be better if people from different countries sent a pic of their school meal coz I dont believe it looks like this in those countries.
That's a marvelous idea. True journalism! While acceptable for FOOD Network magazine, these photos are too stylized. Nice idea though.
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http://inpascani.ro/.../lapte-corn.jpg This is Romania's...so stop complaining so much!
I know, right?! Back in my days, I didn't even get a school lunch. I would've probably appreciated the loaf and milk too.
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Looks like they all bought the same old wood planks as well
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omg the Italian option looks amazing, and I also agree that the US option is simply pathetic compared to the other ones!
sorry to disappoint you, but I'm Italian, and I have NEVER seen anything like that in Italian schools!
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I'm not sure this is an accurate representation, it is relying on stereotypical foods tbh. Trust me, I think many schools have it far worse.
If someone is going to truly compare school lunches around the world, photograph REAL lunches around the world, not made up props.
If someone might be curious about what's usually served in Italy -> http://www.centotrat...MensaUnibo2.jpg
Sadly, it seems the only genuine school meal belongs to the US. The rest appear to be something out of a creative photographer's imagination
Isn't it funny how the U.S. lunch looked like c**p next to the other counties lunches, and it's still ten times better than what kids get in school? Ten fcking chicken nuggets? When I was in school you were lucky if you got five of those things, and no way would you get a cookie and an entire fruit cup. Also the peas wouldn't even look relatively fresh, no they were straight out of a bulk can.
http://www.buzzfeed.com/mjs538/what-school-lunches-look-like-in-20-countries-arou#.eo7YvM5lOq
I'm from Finland but I also visit Greece very frequently..I've never seen any lunch box similar to that
Brazilian schools doesn't give lunch. As far as I know, even colleges doesn't give'em. You gotta buy, and it's not even like this.
yeah, that French lunch is all lies. so is the USA. though the French one is so much better than here. More and better food.
Like every school in one nation serves the exact same lunch...! France doesn't make any sense, a piece of brie cheese.., where's the bread?
Bollocks. The french cook food properly the USA eats s**t. Simples. Not a true representative of school food (my public school had great food) but a truth of different cultures and how others care about other children (FUUSA)
I lived in Italy, and the only real is USA! All around kids eat chicken nuggets! Don’t trust this! 😡
I'm American and I never got school lunches like that. The fruit cups and chicken looks right. But my school is not allowed to serve desserts for children's health. Also, the peas would never be that green and fresh. Some of the other countries look like they came from fancy restaurants! I assume they're also exaggerated?
I live in USA, and the lunches really look that bad! Taste even worse.
I'm from Spain, and I'm pretty sure spanish kids don't eat that thing. I say it because in Spain, schools don't offer well prepared food.
I'm from Spain, and I'm pretty sure any kid eat that thing. Schools don't offer food well prepared.
All of these dishes(except the USA and the Ukraine) are absolutely mouth watering... Can I go to these schools instead please?
the sad thing about the American lunch is it's even more pathetic in reality. We serve fast food in our cafeterias...
it looks better than what is actually served here. Sweets are not served and the peas would never look that fresh.
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these seem a little bit too good to be true don't you think? no school lunch looks this good... unless it was one of those home made bentos.
Beautifully photographed, but I think these are lunches from schools like Hogwarts around the world where they teach magic to trick the eye.
PLEASE, USA gets HALF of that and that looks WAY TO GOOD to come from a school cafe XD
I work at a middle school in the USA and we do not serve sweets at all!
Even before reading the comments below I didn't believe this was real. Why would all schools around the world have the SAME lunch tray!? IJS
this is a joke. My students get very very little for lunch everyday.
In Brazil the typical school lunch is white rice, bean and any cheap meat. http://idealmt.com.b.../01/merenda.jpg
All these countries have the exact same trays. This is a very credible stor.
In Africa some schools provide brown bread & jam sandwiches with a mug of sweet tea as these kids come from homes where there is no food.
As a 24y braziliam girl, I lived my entire life in Brazil and never saw anything like that "Braziliam Lunch" in schools here.
In Australia for years it would be a pie and chips....now its "nude food" local farmers delivering excess produce until Liberalfunding cut.
The American one is pretty on point except they forgot the microwaved mini "cheese burgers"
I am an English teacher in South Korea and this isn't quite right... Kimchi though, for sure.
Also, this is what a real school lunch looks like in France: http://p5.storage.ca...34/48620532.jpg
That's not true about Brazil. Here, the politicals steals the money from the lunch. Sad. =/
Korean middle school lunches are amazing! Served hot and taste home-made with lots of variety every week.
I was going to say wow! Kids in New Zealand bring lunch from home but some unfortunately don't get anything :(
Looks like some foodie hipster went to Whole Foods and created a bunch of made-up ethnic meals then threw in a McDonalds inspired USA lunch.
From a kid in middle school it makes me want to move to France so I don't have to eat prison food
Just the author´s idea of how lunches must be around, I´m mexican and let me give you a hit: there are no tacos nor burritos in kid´s lunch
In France we would not have 2 fruits but one and more likely a yoghurt, no camembert for children (What a stereotype!), but have some carbs
Please do not believe this article. It is all made up nu somberst who felt the urge to make pictures of his canteen plate. Load of cr..
please click on source If this was you child or relatives school project and she recieved all these negative comments can u retract yours NO
Thank you for sharing this school girl presentation. To those with negative comment Please read source! CLICK source of story
Well, on reading the comments, I can see that I was completely taken in! My school lunches back in the 1960s weren`t that good either!
¸Well, Finland appears to have no, or very little, protein, Ukraine and U.S. look a little stodgy, but Italy and Brazil look the best to me!
Its just an idea of what the different countries eat... It doesnt mean they actually have it for lunch....
The female cooks stole most of the meat meant for our school meals in the 50's.
And where are any proteins? These are rations from a Nazi concentration camp?
I think the USA needs to get a grip and feed our children some real food.
We very simple and not so healthy lunches at school but I suppose our cook was great because I remember them being delicious.
In Estonia that was. I don´t know the situation today. Except a lot of people are complaining that there is no vegetarian or vegan option.
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you expect me to believe that finland serves? fresh fruit and no fish
They have berries, and they don't eat fish every day. Thursday is hernekeitto :)
Load More Replies...
In the Netherlands you have to bring your own lunch. And if you live close to your home, you can have lunch at home! What could be better?
I went to private school in Italy and trust me, all you get is pasta (which is fine!) No way you get a 3 course meal!
it's just a work of imagination,he thinks other countries have school launch. every meal inspired by the country's cuisine.most likly he USA
The monthly menu of a school in Madrid. http://www.apaunamuno.org/wordpress/?cat=31
I am Spanish, our menu is not exactly that. Of course, please change the lemon to orange, nobody takes a lemon dessert.
These lunch boxes are - unfortunately - way more appealing in picture than in reality. I would love to see a vegetarian option, though!
Lol im in US and our lunches were awesome. Theres not really a good way to compare them because every school district has different food.
I wish my school lunches resembled anything like that! Anyway... Anything but the USA lunch - I don't do processed stuff. Was that chicken?!
Lol! If any kid in brasil had this lunch we would be lucky! That's too far from reality, and I feel bad for it
These look too good to be school lunch... just look at the USA one and tell me that that's not BS
Lol in NZ I had the choice of a marmite or jam sandwich (no butter or margarine) maybe a apple too if I was lucky
/Users/charlinedurand-wolff/Desktop/1460284_10202614053486183_128808918_n.jpg this was my lunch today in french public school , not so bad!
An this is lunch in any Cuban school...disgusting, believe me!http://www.miscelane...ges/bandeja.jpg
And this is lunch in any Cuban school...disgusting, believe me!http://www.miscelane...ges/bandeja.jpg
i'm italian and i've never seen something like that even if in italy there is the greatest food
Having lived in Switzerland, schools do not offer lunch. Kids go home to eat, and if they need lunch at school it is around $10 per meal.
I just ate lunch with my kids in the Capitol of America and we had 6 mini corn dogs and a fruit cup. Sad.
No no, these are what we WISHED our school lunches in every country looked like. Lol
wishful thinking on the part of the creator, and some OK food photography
it depends on how much money a country spends on food and it affects their knowledge and their future preferences
I'm brazilian and yes, we do have a huge variety of every sort of food you can think of, but that's not our regular menu depicted there.
I'm pretty sure most of the general public don't eat that well in some of those countries at their main meal let alone a school lunch !
Follow me on FB. Mat i skolan (food in school). I am a chef serving 650 free schoollunches every dag.Share it to the world.
I'm Spanish and have NEVER seen anything like that...totally different in real life. Cereals bread barely exists here and lemmon to dessert?
What are the things in the US plate in the lower right corner? And what is the substance in the lower left corner? Italy looks so tasty...
lol... this is definetely what the creator thinks school lunches are... because i am greek and let me tell you, we have no school lunches.
lol! my thoughts exactly.. Maybe in some private school, who knows..
Load More Replies... I'm from Finland and I have NEVER seen anything like that in schools! :D It's totally different in real life.
this is ridiculous! not even in private schools in Brazil children will eat like this! most of them don't even have lunch in schools
America's school lunch looks absolutely pathetic compared to those other school lunches.
First of all the school lunches shown are not real school lunches. Second, in most countries there are no school lunches.
Load More Replies... would be better if people from different countries sent a pic of their school meal coz I dont believe it looks like this in those countries.
That's a marvelous idea. True journalism! While acceptable for FOOD Network magazine, these photos are too stylized. Nice idea though.
Load More Replies... http://inpascani.ro/.../lapte-corn.jpg This is Romania's...so stop complaining so much!
I know, right?! Back in my days, I didn't even get a school lunch. I would've probably appreciated the loaf and milk too.
Load More Replies... Looks like they all bought the same old wood planks as well
Load More Replies... omg the Italian option looks amazing, and I also agree that the US option is simply pathetic compared to the other ones!
sorry to disappoint you, but I'm Italian, and I have NEVER seen anything like that in Italian schools!
Load More Replies... I'm not sure this is an accurate representation, it is relying on stereotypical foods tbh. Trust me, I think many schools have it far worse.
If someone is going to truly compare school lunches around the world, photograph REAL lunches around the world, not made up props.
If someone might be curious about what's usually served in Italy -> http://www.centotrat...MensaUnibo2.jpg
Sadly, it seems the only genuine school meal belongs to the US. The rest appear to be something out of a creative photographer's imagination
Isn't it funny how the U.S. lunch looked like c**p next to the other counties lunches, and it's still ten times better than what kids get in school? Ten fcking chicken nuggets? When I was in school you were lucky if you got five of those things, and no way would you get a cookie and an entire fruit cup. Also the peas wouldn't even look relatively fresh, no they were straight out of a bulk can.
http://www.buzzfeed.com/mjs538/what-school-lunches-look-like-in-20-countries-arou#.eo7YvM5lOq
I'm from Finland but I also visit Greece very frequently..I've never seen any lunch box similar to that
Brazilian schools doesn't give lunch. As far as I know, even colleges doesn't give'em. You gotta buy, and it's not even like this.
yeah, that French lunch is all lies. so is the USA. though the French one is so much better than here. More and better food.
Like every school in one nation serves the exact same lunch...! France doesn't make any sense, a piece of brie cheese.., where's the bread?
Bollocks. The french cook food properly the USA eats s**t. Simples. Not a true representative of school food (my public school had great food) but a truth of different cultures and how others care about other children (FUUSA)
I lived in Italy, and the only real is USA! All around kids eat chicken nuggets! Don’t trust this! 😡
I'm American and I never got school lunches like that. The fruit cups and chicken looks right. But my school is not allowed to serve desserts for children's health. Also, the peas would never be that green and fresh. Some of the other countries look like they came from fancy restaurants! I assume they're also exaggerated?
I live in USA, and the lunches really look that bad! Taste even worse.
I'm from Spain, and I'm pretty sure spanish kids don't eat that thing. I say it because in Spain, schools don't offer well prepared food.
I'm from Spain, and I'm pretty sure any kid eat that thing. Schools don't offer food well prepared.
All of these dishes(except the USA and the Ukraine) are absolutely mouth watering... Can I go to these schools instead please?
the sad thing about the American lunch is it's even more pathetic in reality. We serve fast food in our cafeterias...
it looks better than what is actually served here. Sweets are not served and the peas would never look that fresh.
Load More Replies... these seem a little bit too good to be true don't you think? no school lunch looks this good... unless it was one of those home made bentos.
Beautifully photographed, but I think these are lunches from schools like Hogwarts around the world where they teach magic to trick the eye.
PLEASE, USA gets HALF of that and that looks WAY TO GOOD to come from a school cafe XD
I work at a middle school in the USA and we do not serve sweets at all!
Even before reading the comments below I didn't believe this was real. Why would all schools around the world have the SAME lunch tray!? IJS
this is a joke. My students get very very little for lunch everyday.
In Brazil the typical school lunch is white rice, bean and any cheap meat. http://idealmt.com.b.../01/merenda.jpg
All these countries have the exact same trays. This is a very credible stor.
In Africa some schools provide brown bread & jam sandwiches with a mug of sweet tea as these kids come from homes where there is no food.
As a 24y braziliam girl, I lived my entire life in Brazil and never saw anything like that "Braziliam Lunch" in schools here.
In Australia for years it would be a pie and chips....now its "nude food" local farmers delivering excess produce until Liberalfunding cut.
The American one is pretty on point except they forgot the microwaved mini "cheese burgers"
I am an English teacher in South Korea and this isn't quite right... Kimchi though, for sure.
Also, this is what a real school lunch looks like in France: http://p5.storage.ca...34/48620532.jpg
That's not true about Brazil. Here, the politicals steals the money from the lunch. Sad. =/
Korean middle school lunches are amazing! Served hot and taste home-made with lots of variety every week.
I was going to say wow! Kids in New Zealand bring lunch from home but some unfortunately don't get anything :(
Looks like some foodie hipster went to Whole Foods and created a bunch of made-up ethnic meals then threw in a McDonalds inspired USA lunch.
From a kid in middle school it makes me want to move to France so I don't have to eat prison food
Just the author´s idea of how lunches must be around, I´m mexican and let me give you a hit: there are no tacos nor burritos in kid´s lunch
In France we would not have 2 fruits but one and more likely a yoghurt, no camembert for children (What a stereotype!), but have some carbs
Please do not believe this article. It is all made up nu somberst who felt the urge to make pictures of his canteen plate. Load of cr..
please click on source If this was you child or relatives school project and she recieved all these negative comments can u retract yours NO
Thank you for sharing this school girl presentation. To those with negative comment Please read source! CLICK source of story
Well, on reading the comments, I can see that I was completely taken in! My school lunches back in the 1960s weren`t that good either!
¸Well, Finland appears to have no, or very little, protein, Ukraine and U.S. look a little stodgy, but Italy and Brazil look the best to me!
Its just an idea of what the different countries eat... It doesnt mean they actually have it for lunch....
The female cooks stole most of the meat meant for our school meals in the 50's.
And where are any proteins? These are rations from a Nazi concentration camp?
I think the USA needs to get a grip and feed our children some real food.
We very simple and not so healthy lunches at school but I suppose our cook was great because I remember them being delicious.
In Estonia that was. I don´t know the situation today. Except a lot of people are complaining that there is no vegetarian or vegan option.
Load More Replies... you expect me to believe that finland serves? fresh fruit and no fish
They have berries, and they don't eat fish every day. Thursday is hernekeitto :)
Load More Replies... In the Netherlands you have to bring your own lunch. And if you live close to your home, you can have lunch at home! What could be better?
I went to private school in Italy and trust me, all you get is pasta (which is fine!) No way you get a 3 course meal!
it's just a work of imagination,he thinks other countries have school launch. every meal inspired by the country's cuisine.most likly he USA
The monthly menu of a school in Madrid. http://www.apaunamuno.org/wordpress/?cat=31
I am Spanish, our menu is not exactly that. Of course, please change the lemon to orange, nobody takes a lemon dessert.
These lunch boxes are - unfortunately - way more appealing in picture than in reality. I would love to see a vegetarian option, though!
Lol im in US and our lunches were awesome. Theres not really a good way to compare them because every school district has different food.
I wish my school lunches resembled anything like that! Anyway... Anything but the USA lunch - I don't do processed stuff. Was that chicken?!
Lol! If any kid in brasil had this lunch we would be lucky! That's too far from reality, and I feel bad for it
These look too good to be school lunch... just look at the USA one and tell me that that's not BS
Lol in NZ I had the choice of a marmite or jam sandwich (no butter or margarine) maybe a apple too if I was lucky
/Users/charlinedurand-wolff/Desktop/1460284_10202614053486183_128808918_n.jpg this was my lunch today in french public school , not so bad!
An this is lunch in any Cuban school...disgusting, believe me!http://www.miscelane...ges/bandeja.jpg
And this is lunch in any Cuban school...disgusting, believe me!http://www.miscelane...ges/bandeja.jpg
i'm italian and i've never seen something like that even if in italy there is the greatest food
Having lived in Switzerland, schools do not offer lunch. Kids go home to eat, and if they need lunch at school it is around $10 per meal.
I just ate lunch with my kids in the Capitol of America and we had 6 mini corn dogs and a fruit cup. Sad.
No no, these are what we WISHED our school lunches in every country looked like. Lol
wishful thinking on the part of the creator, and some OK food photography
it depends on how much money a country spends on food and it affects their knowledge and their future preferences
I'm brazilian and yes, we do have a huge variety of every sort of food you can think of, but that's not our regular menu depicted there.
I'm pretty sure most of the general public don't eat that well in some of those countries at their main meal let alone a school lunch !
Follow me on FB. Mat i skolan (food in school). I am a chef serving 650 free schoollunches every dag.Share it to the world.
I'm Spanish and have NEVER seen anything like that...totally different in real life. Cereals bread barely exists here and lemmon to dessert?
What are the things in the US plate in the lower right corner? And what is the substance in the lower left corner? Italy looks so tasty...
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