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:
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.
