France School Lunch

Country: France

Contents: Chowder, water, pudding, couscous(?), and I'm not sure what the main dish is. Beef?

Source: ?

Notes: Healthy and delicious I'm sure. Probably totally unapetizing to the American school child's palate.

Ghana School Lunch - Rice

Country: Ghana

Contents: Rice and sauce (?)

Source: ?

Notes: Not much, but it's something and they certainly seem happy. I hope there is some protein in that sauce.

UK School Lunch - Pasta and Veggies

Country: UK

Contents: Pasta , green beans, sweetcorn, salad, bread and a choice of jelly (jello) or a biscuit (cookie) for dessert.

Source: Thanks Michael J.

Notes: Healthy and delicious. The more I see school lunch from other countries, the more I am confused about our own school lunches. I honestly remember my school lunches being healthy, balanced and delicious. Did that really change in such a short (relatively) amount of time?

USA School Lunch - Jamaican Beef Patty

Country: USA

Contents: Jamaican beef patty and a mandarin.

Source: http://americanlunchroom.com/2009/07/jamaican-beef-patty-and-an-orange/

Notes: Seriously?

India School Lunch Menu

Country: India

Source: Thanks Parshu N.

Notes: This is a relatively privileged school with mostly children of professionals (bankers, lawyers, business executives, media people, writers, artists etc)– here’s the all-vegetarian weekly lunch menu for my 6-year old.

USA School Lunch - Burrito and Pasta

Country: USA (Washington DC)

Contents: Burrito (made with lunch meat and processed cheese), broccoli, wheat noodles and chocolate milk.

Source: http://betterdcschoolfood.blogspot.com/2010/04/whats-for-lunch-turkey-ham-burrito.html Thanks Ed!

Notes: Is it just me, or does it look like they forgot to plan lunch, so they just threw a bunch of stuff together. Actually, that would be much better than if they actually planned this. Yuck.

USA School Lunch - Pasta and Squash

Country: USA

Contents: Pasta, squash, yogurt, cookies, apples, and milk.

Source: http://schoollunchfoundguilty.wordpress.com/2010/04/12/pasta-and-pickles/

Notes: Mmm, Milano cookies... This lunch actually looks pretty dang tasty. I don't know that squash appeals to a child's palate, however, unless it is something they have been exposed to.

USA School Lunch - Chicken and Plantains

Country: USA

Contents: Chicken, plantains, and banana

Source: http://schoollunchfoundguilty.wordpress.com/2010/04/13/chicken-and-plantains-and-bananas/

Notes: Hey, pretty healthy. I'd eat it, I bet even my 1.5 year old son would as well. Though, the plantains do look pretty greasy.

USA School Lunch - Salisbury Steak and Mashed Potatoes

Country: USA (Washington DC)

Contents: "Salisbury Steak" (yeah right), collard greens, biscuit, mashed potatoes

Source: http://betterdcschoolfood.blogspot.com/2010/04/salisbury-steak-strategies.html Thanks Ed!

Notes: I just threw up in my mouth a little. That yellow stuff on the steak is "gravy."

Japan School Lunch - Stew and Bread

Country: Japan

Contents: Stew, bread and stir fry(?)

Source: ?

Notes: That's a lot of bread. The stew looks really good. What is the Japanese word for stew?

USA School Lunch - Hot Dog and Tater Tots

Country: USA (Washington DC)

Contents: Hot dog, tater tots, corn on the cob, chocolate milk and ketchup.

Source: http://betterdcschoolfood.blogspot.com/2010/04/whats-for-lunch-hot-dog-starch.html

Notes: Corn on the cob is good, right? The hot dog is all beef, which is good. But there is an awful lot of salt in the dog and tater tots, and the meal is loaded with starch.

Malaysia School Lunch - Fried Rice

Country: Malaysia (Homemade)

Contents: Fried rice with mushroom, eggs and meat, a pack of soya milk, cherry tomatoes and jelly.

Source: Henry C.

Notes: Henry informs me that they do indeed have school lunch in Malaysia, but he is not allowed to bring a camera to school. Thanks for sharing Henry, looks delicious.

School Lunches a National Security Threat?

“The retired officers are saying that school lunches have helped make the nation’s young people so fat that fewer of them can meet the military’s physical fitness standards, and recruitment is in jeopardy.”

USA School Breakfast - French Toast and Graham Crackers

Country: USA (Washington DC)

Contents: French toast, graham crackers, chocolate milk, apple juice.

Source: http://betterdcschoolfood.blogspot.com/2010/04/whats-for-breakfast-fiesta-of-carbs.html Thanks Ed!

Notes: That's a lot of carbs. Yeah, kids could certainly use the carbs to give them energy in the morning and jump start there metabolisms. That said, they could use some fruit and would be better off with normal milk. Mmm, milk and graham crackers.

USA School Lunch - Burrito and Kiwi

Country: USA

Contents: Burrito with cheese, sugar cookie, kiwi and chocolate milk.

Source: ?

Notes: Burrito looks like it probably tastes good, even if it isn't good for you, just like Taco Bell. Nice to see a whole kiwi. Wonder if that is common?

School Lunch - Chicken Patty and Caramel Corn

Country: Unknown

Contents: Chicken patty with marinara, pears, veggies, caramel corn, milk.

Source: ?

Notes: Yes, that's carmel corn. I thought this was from the USA, but based on the milk, I think it may be a US military base school, somewhere over seas. "U.S. Forces Europe."

USA School Lunch - Dinosaur Shaped Chicken Nuggets

Country: USA

Contents: Dinosaur shaped chicken nuggets, ketchup, tater tots, rice crispy treat and what looks like coleslaw.

Source: ?

Notes: I'm not sure if that is coleslaw, but if so it is colorless. Chicken should not be shaped that way. There is no denying rice crispy treats are delicious, but the kids would be much better off with some fruit.

France School Lunch - Guinea Fowl (Airline Food?)

Country: France

Contents: Guinea fowl, vegetables, salad, cheese, bread, desert and more

Source: http://www.culinate.com/columns/deborah/french_school_lunch

Notes: Anyone able to identify all the items? Good grief but this looks delicious. But, before you go assuming that all French school food is amazing and healthy, check out the other French lunches posted on What's for School Lunch?

Slovakia School Lunch - Groats

Country: Slovakia

Contents: Groats

Source: Heni H.

Notes: I don't know that I've ever had groats, but I'd be willing to try. Heni describes them as "groats prepared in a mysterious way."

Groats are the hulled grains of various cereals, such as oats, wheat, barley, or buckwheat (which is actually a pseudocereal). It is a traditional ingredient commonly used in Eastern European cooking.

USA School Lunch - Chicken Fingers

Country: USA

Contents: Chicken fingers, duck sauce and a mandarin*

Source: http://americanlunchroom.com/tag/duck-sauce/

Notes: What a small, terrible lunch.

USA School Breakfast - Cereal and Apple Juice

Country: USA (Washington DC)

Contents: Three servings of Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal, strawberry milk, graham crackers and apple juice.

Source: http://betterdcschoolfood.blogspot.com/2010/04/whats-for-breakfast_13.html Thanks Ed!

Notes: Note that this wasn't the serving size offered by the school, the child simply took three, apparently unnoticed.

New KFC "Sandwich"

What's the world coming to when we replace bread with fried chicken?


The new KFC Double Down sandwich is real and it's coming April 12th! This one-of-a-kind sandwich features two thick and juicy boneless white meat chicken filets (Original Recipe® or Grilled), two pieces of bacon, two melted slices of Monterey Jack and pepper jack cheese and Colonel's Sauce. This product is so meaty, there’s no room for a bun!

The Double Down comes in two versions – Original Recipe® or Grilled and the nutrition information is below.

Watch the Double Down TV Commercial

USA School Breakfast - Egg Quesadilla

Country: USA (Washington DC)

Contents: Egg and sausage quesadilla with chocolate milk and baked apples

Source: http://betterdcschoolfood.blogspot.com/2010/04/whats-for-breakfast.html Thanks Ed!

Notes: Oh man that quesadilla looks awful. It would be such an easy breakfast to do right, and make delicious if they just put a little effort into it.

USA School Breakfast - Grits and Sausage

Country: USA (Washington DC)

Contents: Grits, turkey sausage, milk and apple

Source: http://betterdcschoolfood.blogspot.com/2010/04/spork-talk-for-breakfast.html

Notes: I love grits. I a little butter, some salt and pepper... But, these don't look all that fantastic.

USA School Lunch - French Fries and Chips

Country: USA (Washington DC)

Contents: French fries, Sun Chips and strawberry milk.

Source: http://www.theslowcook.com/2010/04/08/you-call-this-food/ Thanks Ed!

Notes: Yep, that is some child's lunch.

USA School Lunch - Chicken Parmesan and Salad

Country: USA (Washington DC)

Contents: Chicken Parmesan, whole wheat noodles, salad and milk.

Source: http://betterdcschoolfood.blogspot.com/2010/04/spork-talk.html

Notes: Ah the spork.

USA School Lunch - Chicken and Pineapple

Country: USA (Cyberschool Student)

Contents: Orange-honey glazed chicken drumstick, jasmine rice, steamed spinach with balsamic vinegar, pineapple rings, a frozen Scooby-Doo Go-Gurt and cup of watered-down pineapple orange juice.

Source: Chrissi: http://cyberschoolmomdiaries.blogspot.com/2010/04/cyberschooler-lunch-orange-honey-glazed.html

Notes: If only all kids ate so well.

Japan School Lunch - Fish and Rice

Country: Japan

Contents: Fish, rice, cucumber salad, strawberries, miso soup, soy beans and milk.

Source: ?

Notes: Anyone want to give a little more detail as to the contents?

UK School Lunch - Hamburger and Corn

Country: UK

Contents: Hamburger, corn, cucumber and pudding.

Source: Michael J.

Notes: What is that child eating? Is that some sort of... It is, it is a vegetable. There, proof positive, kids will eat them if they are provided. But perhaps the biggest lesson here is, hamburgers do not need to be served with French fries, they can be served separately.

UK School Lunch - Chicken Risotto and Veggies

Country: UK

Contents: Chicken risotto, peas, corn, bread, and sponge pudding with custard.

Source: Michael J.

Notes: Please pass the pudding.

UK School Lunch - Lasagna and Salad

Country: UK

Contents: Lasagna, carrots, corn, salad and fruit salad.

Source: Michael J.

Notes: Two salads plus two veggies? Madness. Is it still April Fools Day?

UK School Lunch - Pizza and Peas

Country: UK

Contents: Pizza, peas, bread and fruit salad

Source: Michael J.

Notes: The pizza is actually shaped like pizza. Interesting. I don't see the point of having bread with pizza, that's just like having extra crust, right? Anyway, looks good.