8 School Lunches From Around The World

Ever wonder what kids in other countries eat for lunch? Exposing children to a variety of dining practices and cultural cuisines early on can promote curiosity, empathy, and understanding through our favorite medium — food!

1. China

Rice, vegetables, fish or tofu + sometimes soup. Some elementary schools in China practice nap time after lunch.

(Source: Next Shark)

2. India

Vegetables, lentil stew, cheese + whole wheat flatbread. 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.

(Source: Serious Eats)

3. Japan

Milk, soup, rice, fruit, vegetable + a main dish of tofu, chicken, pork, or eggs. In some Japanese schools, the students serve lunch to each other to teach the value of service.

(Source: Business Insider)

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.

(Source: HuffPost)

5. France

Salad, meat, vegetable, bread + cheese, plus a tart or fruit for dessert. According to BBC, France has a national ban on vending machines in all schools.

(Source: Mindbodygreen)

6. Russia

A bowl of Borscht, bread, meat + grains. The Russian word for lunch, obed, translates to dinner in English. As its name suggests, lunch in Russia tends to be quite substantial.

(Source: Food Network Canada)

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.

(Source: Daily Mail)

8. Italy

Penne pasta, meat with a side of vegetables + fruit for dessert. Schools in Italy serve lunches made predominantly from organic ingredients.

(Source: HuffPost)