What's For School Lunch?

Japan School Lunch - Hotdog

Country: Japan

Contents: Hot dog, bun, coleslaw, tomato, fries, and soup.

Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/heroicbeer/851455927/in/set-72157624185002848/

Notes: A suprisingly American meal, but with Japanese portion sizes.

Japan School Lunch - Udon Noodles and Fish Sausage

Country: Japan

Contents: Udon, cheese-stuffed chikuwa (fish sausage), frozen Mandarin orange, and milk.

Source: http://www.buzzfeed.com/mjs538/what-school-lunches-look-like-in-20-countries-arou

Notes: I'd be interested in trying the chikuwa.

Sweden School Lunch

Country: Sweden

Contents: The lunch on the picture is a kind of pasta gratin with chicken and cheese. Not the most nutritious, but one of my favorite school lunches. There's also grated carrot and a simple green salad with cucumber and tomatoes.

Source: Lovisa

Notes: Hi! I'm a 17 year old girl and I just came across this blog. I like the concept and I actually had a photo of one of my school lunches in my phone, so I decided to submit it. I took the photo so that I could prove to my little sister that my plate actually consist of about half vegetables. Not that it always does - sometimes I exaggerate a little bit. Anyway, the Swedish school system requires the schools to provide free lunch for all students, although the rules are different in the gymnasium (years 10-12, about 15-19 year old students) and some private schools require payment beforehand. My school has three dishes every day, one that is vegetarian, a salad bar, crisp bread (knäckebröd) and filmjölk with müsli or cornflakes. To drink, there is water, milk and three kinds of squash.

Pizza as a Vegetable? Congress Proposes New School Lunch Bill

Congress wants pizza and french fries to stay on school lunch lines and is fighting the Obama administration's efforts to take unhealthy foods out of schools.

The final version of a spending bill released late Monday would unravel school lunch standards the Agriculture Department proposed earlier this year. These include limiting the use of potatoes on the lunch line, putting new restrictions on sodium and boosting the use of whole grains. The legislation would block or delay all of those efforts.

The bill also would allow tomato paste on pizzas to be counted as a vegetable, as it is now.

Read more here.

The United States of Obesity

I'm not trying to preach, just thought this was interesting. I think a whole lot of the problem can be linked to children not eating healthy foods.

Lots of School Lunches from the Czech Republic

All of these lunches are from Czech school canteens. These are just main courses, they are always accompanied by soup and drink. There are way too many to post here, so I thought I would just post a link. Czech School Lunch photos here.

Thanks Sarka!

Child Obesity InfoGraphic

In recognition of National School Lunch Week (NSLW) 2011 (running Monday, October 10 through Friday, October 14) we’ve created an infographic about the childhood obesity epidemic. It’s important that we help students understand where food comes from and the nutritional benefits that go along with the food they consume. During this week, the School Nutrition Association, as well as teachers, parents, community members and educators around the country will help highlight to students the benefit that school lunch can provide for kids to grow strong and healthy.

Brought to you by MAT@USC Masters in Teaching

USA School Lunch - Uncrustables

Country: USA

Contents: Smuckers Uncrustable, apple, chocolate milk, rice crispy treat, lays potato chips, mystery item wrapped in tin foil.
Source: Evelyn G.

Notes: Thank you Evelyn for the picture. Certainly looks like a lunch a child would be happy to eat, though it certainly isn't uber-healthy. Your thoughts?

Tips on Building a Better Lunchbox

Project Bread has a few tips on putting together a healthy lunch for your kids. It's an interesting read worth checking out.

USA School Lunch - Chicken

Country: USA

Contents: Chicken, green beans, mac and cheese, corn with mixed veggies.
Source: Anonymous
Notes: This is a "teacher portioned" lunch from a private school in the USA.

Madagascar School Lunch - Rice and Vegetables

Country: Madagascar (Antsirabe)
Contents: Rice and veggies.
Source: Charlotte. Her blog: http://chingita.blogspot.com/
Notes: She says that every day they eat rice and vegetables, and once a week they have meat.

Also, here are two photos from a birthday party at the school in Madagascar:

Estonia School Lunch - Chicken Noodle Soup

Country: Estonia

Contents: Chicken soup, omelet with sausage, tea, bread.

Source Photos taken by pupils Anna, Artjom N, Artjom R and Maria I.

Notes: Wow, that soup actually looks really good. Chicken noodle soup from school is usually pretty sketchy looking.

Estonia School Lunch - Schnitzel

Country: Estonia

Contents: Schnitzel with rice, cucumber, tomato sauce, bread, tea.

Source: Photos taken by pupils Anna, Artjom N, Artjom R and Maria I.

Notes: Mmm, German food.

Estonia School Lunch - Pasta

Country: Estonia

Contents: Pasta with topping from the pieces of meat and carrot, some salad,coffee, bread.

Source: Photos taken by pupils Anna, Artjom N, Artjom R and Maria I.

Notes: Looks a bit like stroganoff.

USA School Lunch - Cheese Ravioli

Country: USA (Private School)

Contents: 100% orange juice, mixed veggies (Green Beans, Yellow/Orange carrots, pearl onions, red peppers), egg bread, turkey meatballs, cheese ravioli.

Source: Anonymous

Notes: Cost $4.75. Only complaint was that the sauce was too sweet.

USA School Lunch - Beef Patty

Country: USA (Private School in South Florida)

Contents: Fresh apple, beef patty with brown gravy, vegetable mix (potato, carrot, green and red pepper, green beans).

Source: Anonymous

Notes: Those veggies look awesome, but that gravy... Shiver.

Chicago School Bans Home-Packed Lunches

A Chicago school's controversial policy of banning pupils from bringing lunches from home is aimed at encouraging healthy eating, the principal said.

I think it imposes on parent's rights, even if it does have good intentions. Your thoughts?

New Facebook Page

Hey everybody, on the suggestion of a friend, I've created a Facebook page for What's for School Lunch. Make sure to "like it" on Facebook, tell your friends, and share some pictures and stories. Thanks!

Czech Republic School Lunch - Rice and Meat

Country: Czech Republic (Prague)

Contents: Soup, rice, chicken, dessert (is that egg on top?), juice and hot tea.

Source: 2 serving 1

Notes: Is that raw egg on the dessert? Looks like it. The food looks totally delicious, despite the egg.

USA School Lunch - Chili

Country: USA (Florida)

Contents: Chili (with brown rice and cheese), corn, apple juice, corn muffin and a lot of salt packets.

Source: Anonymous

Notes: My sister-in-law is from Estonia, and when she first got here she was surprised that people ate corn. She said that in Estonia corn is only for animals. But, now she loves it and eats it all the time.

Submit a Photo for the Book/Website

So like I said, I am considering putting together a book of school lunch photos based on the blog. If I were to sell more than one copy to my Mom, I'll give a big chunk of it to charities that support healthy school lunch programs. If you would like to submit a picture for the book/website, here is what you need to do:
1. Include a complete description of the lunch items in your picture(s).
2. Indicate how you would like your name to appear in the book/site (let me know if you want to remain anonymous).
3. Include any comments on the photo, or school lunch in general, you want considered for the book/site.
4. A sentence or two clearly stating permission for me to use your photo(s).

Thanks everyone!

And finally if you have any other pictures you would like to submit for the website/possible book feel free to send them to this e-mail address.

Your Thoughts on a What's For School Lunch Book?

What do you think about me putting together a book based on the school lunches on this blog? If I were to do it, I would need a lot more of you to send in pictures of lunch, with full descriptions, and a sentence or two giving me permission to use it in a book, and whether or not you wanted your name mentioned. Just an idea.

I think it could be pretty neat. I get quite a few e-mails from magazines and TV shows wanting to use pictures from this site, so there is certainly a market for it.