People Are Sharing How Different Countries’ School Lunches Look

Let’s hop in the way back machine and think about what lunchtime looked like back in elementary and high school .

If you’re me, there weren’t school lunches at all, just a cafeteria that served (mostly) greasy junk food . I loved it, of course. But my experience may not be typical.

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Redditors around the United States and around the world are sharing what their typical school lunches look like. They range from gross to gourmet and everywhere in between, so let’s dig in.

“This was my lunch at an American school since we’re doing photos of school lunches now.”

You know things are off to a bad start when you’re not entirely sure what the entree is. Is that a burger or a chicken sandwich or sloppy joes?

“My Korean school lunch!! Free for all students”

This meal looks downright delightful, even if I’m not totally sure what every item is. In any event, it’s nice to get a decent variety of stuff.

“Average American school lunch 2022…”

I’m sensing a trend here with U.S. school lunches. This looks bland and flavorless, and the picture was shot with a blurry potato.

“New York City school lunch.”

Here’s an American lunch that actually looks pretty good. It has plenty of grains and greens, and even comes with two oranges to toss in your school bag.

“School lunch today. Middle school in Frisco, Texas.”

I like chicken sandwiches as much as the next guy, but this sandwich is distinctly sad looking. At least it comes on a whole wheat bun.

“This is what an average school lunch looks like for high schoolers in Germany.”

It’s a tad basic, but it gets the job done: a salad to start, a hearty pasta dish and (I think) chocolate pudding for dessert.

“School lunch today (yesterday in Japan) was chicken rice, eggdrop soup w/vegetables, and fruit salad.”

Here’s another lunch along the same lines from Japan: an appetizer, a main and a sweet treat for dessert.

“On my sister’s first day of school in 1983 there was a mobile McDonald’s right in front of the school.”

If we expand the definition of school lunch a bit, we see this vintage example. Students would love this, but parents probably wouldn’t.

“School lunch for a Baltimore city Elementary school. The dried stuff in between the mac and green beans is ham, btw.”

This is distinctly underwhelming, but I suppose it gets the job done. At least it comes with a few greens.

“Free lunch in Eastern European public school for grades 1-12.”

This is just one part of this Eastern European lunch. It has a full-blown salad bar. I mean, this is actually some high end stuff.

“French student lunch. 3,30 € (or 1,00€ if you have low family income).”

This is a uniquely generous lunch. It comes with a huge plate of food as the main course, along with a salad, bun and…tiny piece of pizza? Some kind of cake? Either way, I’m intrigued.

“The quality of everyday free school lunch in Finland.”

Finland must be doing something right if every school lunch comes with not one, but two glasses of milk.

“This is what Swedish school lunch looks like.”

My experience with Swedish food begins and ends with Ikea, but this looks pretty delectable. I like how it includes one Swedish meatball, in keeping with tradition.

“My Swedish school lunch (100% Free!)”

Staying in Sweden, here’s a school lunch that leans heavily on the fried stuff. I wonder if that sauce or syrup is made of lingonberries.

“My school lunch in Beijing, China.”

I’m not entirely sure what everything here actually is, and I don’t like corn. That said, I’m totally here for the meat on a skewer.

“My Irish school lunch, free for all students.”

Every other school lunch, even the sad ones, has included at least one other thing in addition to the main course. I guess they like to keep things simple in Ireland.

“School lunch in Japan.”

That steamed rice looks absolutely fluffy and delicious, and this lunch comes with some legit pineapple for dessert as well.

“School lunch in Thailand, 25 baht. About .75 USD.”

Here’s another one-plate school lunch, this time from Thailand. At least this includes some greens.

“What 2,50€ gets you in my Public Italian school.”

People in the Mediterranean region live longer thanks to, well, the Mediterranean diet. I’m not sure if school lunches are rich with fish, olive oil and whole grains, but it looks possible.

“Here’s my awesome Korean school lunch! Schools have a qualified nutritionist to plan the lunch menu.”

I think this lunch takes the cake, so to speak. It includes an impressive variety of food and looks healthy and delicious.