School lunch in the United States: hot dog with chili. Source: Buzzfeed
Americans are often criticized for their relationship with food– we’re too fat; we eat too quickly; our food is greasy and unhealthy. For the most part, that may be true, but as much as we can learn from the eating habits of other countries, it’s also important not to take our food for granted. In a way, the school lunch provides us with a quick-and-dirty take on a given place’s culture, values and economic wellbeing. Take a look at these school lunches around the world and you’ll find that the United States lands somewhere between mediocre and decadent:
School lunch from the United States: Fried chicken nuggets, canned peas, potatoes. Source: Upworthy
School lunch in the United States: macaroni and cheese, oranges. Source: What's For School Lunch?
School lunch in the United States: hot dog with chili. Source: Buzzfeed
A decent school lunch in the United States: American-style Japanese bento box. Source: BuzzFeed
School lunch from Spain: local shrimp, gazpacho, fresh peppers. Source: Upworthy
School lunch from Ukraine: Mashed potatoes, sausage, borscht. Source: Upworthy
School lunch in the UK: Potato with cheese, carrots, corn. Source: BuzzFeed
School lunch in Taiwan: veggies, rice, pork, tofu soup. Source: BuzzFeed
School lunch from Brazil: Pork, rice, plantains. Source: Upworthy
School lunch in Brazil: meat and veggie stew, plantain, rice, salad. Source: What's For School Lunch
School lunch from Chile: avocado, beef, fries, rice, cabbage. Source: What's For School Lunch
At times, American meal options seem terrible-- chicken nuggets and canned peas-- but some enterprising schools and government initiatives are making an effort to bring their kids quality food with culturally-sensitive touches. Still, it's better than what kids are eating in developing countries--most are lucky to have seasoning on a bowl of plain rice.
