15 School Lunches From Around The World
Curious about what school lunch around the world looks like? From different lunch customs to different menu staples, there are so many unique options from tray to tray around the world. To satisfy your wanderlust, here’s a look at what kids eat at lunchtime from all around the globe.
1. China
Bok choy, yuxiang pork (pork + a garlic sauce), steamed buns + sometimes soup. Some elementary schools in China practice nap time after lunch.
2. India
Vegetables, dal (lentil stew), paneer (a popular cheese) + naan, chapati or roti (different types of flatbreads). According to NPR, India has the largest school lunch program in the world, providing over 100 million free meals to kids every day at school.
3. Japan
Milk, miso soup, white rice, pork fried with vegetables + fruit. In some Japanese schools, students take turns serving lunch to each other to teach the value of service. Many Japanese schools also feature gardens that supply parts of the meal.
4. Brazil
Rice, beans, meat, fruit + vegetables. According to the Pulitzer Center, Brazil works to support local, family-run farms in sourcing ingredients for school lunches.
5. France
Salad, meat, vegetable, bread + cheese, plus a tart or fruit for dessert. According to the Baltimore Sun, schools in Lyon, France went meatless to make serving lunch easier during the pandemic.
6. Russia
A bowl of Borscht, bread, meat + grains. The Russian word for lunch, obed, actually translates to ‘dinner’ in English. As its name suggests, lunch in Russia tends to be quite substantial.
7. South Korea
Rice, soup, kimchi + mixed vegetable sides known as banchan. Some schools include Western options such as pasta, chicken nuggets, and french toast.
8. Italy
Penne pasta, meat with a side of vegetables + fruit for dessert. Schools in Italy serve lunches made predominantly from organic ingredients.
9. Spain
Paella, vegetables, gazpacho, fresh peppers, bread + fruit. Spaniards typically eat a mediterranean diet with lots of fresh seafood from the coast, whole grains + seasonal fruits.
10. Sweden
Meat stew, coleslaw, boiled potatoes, Knäckebröd (crispbread) + lingonberry juice. According to Oxford Academic, Sweden provides free lunch to all children in their nine-year school program.
11. Greece
Meat, orzo, stuffed grape leaves, salad + a sweet fruit or yogurt. Greeks inspired the Mediterranean diet with their plant-forward meals, which are known to reduce disease + inflammation.
12. United Kingdom
Sausage, beans, potatoes + fruit. In the UK, lunch is called “school dinner” and dinner is called “tea”.
13. Argentina
Milanesa de pollo, or breaded meat, a starch + rice. According to Saveur, in many South American countries school normally begins and ends before lunch or after lunch.
14. Finland
Hot lunch of vegetables or soup, meat, fish + bread. According to CBC, Finland was the first country to offer free lunch to students.
15. USA
Multiple lunch options like salads, sandwiches, soups, smoothies, pasta, pizza + so much more. With over 20+ choices a week, the combinations are endless, making lunch anything but typical!
