This Is What A Typical Lunch Actually Looks Like In Different Countries Around The World
It's always surprising to learn how differently certain things are done around the world.
Recently, people online have been sharing pictures of the lunches they are provided at school and it turns out that the meals look shockingly different around the world. Keep reading to see if your country made the list!
France
The French are well-known for their cuisine so it's not surprising that even their public schools seem to have great meals.
This cafeteria meal is straight out of a French university and it looks like it includes multiple courses.
French Universities Have Incredibly Affordable Meals
Again in France, this photo shows the "average college cafeteria meal," also featuring a salad, a main, and a dessert.
At a public university, this meal would cost approximately €3.30.
Japan
School lunches work a little differently in Japan.
This particular class lunch was provided in Okayama Prefecture, but it was planned out long before it reached the classroom.
Japanese Students Have A Team Of Nutritionists To Plan Their Meals
Japanese school lunches, like the one pictured above, are provided to all students and prepared by a team of nutritionists to ensure that children are eating a balanced diet.
They include a mix of traditional foods that most kids are already used to eating at home.
Denmark
This student lunch in Denmark looks like a top-tier restaurant burger with a small appetizer salad and a roasted potato side.
Surely, most students are eager for lunchtime to roll around with a menu like this.
South Korea
Students are also provided plentiful lunches at no cost in South Korea.
The tray pictured above shows a student lunch that includes "beef noodle soup and various banchan." The serving size looks more than filling!
South Korean Students Are Provided Free Lunch
This photo was shared by another South Korean student who called it a "typical school lunch."
The tray nearly always includes a traditional soup and mixed servings of steamed or fried vegetables that rotate seasonally.
The Korean School Lunch Menu Rotates Weekly
The menu in the Korean school lunch program rotates on a weekly basis.
The kids can expect the same lunch Monday through Friday and then an entirely new menu in the next week.
Food Portions At Colleges And Universities In South Korea Are Generous
The meal portion sizes in Korean schools increase with each year to ensure the students are always getting enough required nutrients in their diet.
By the time students reach college and university, they are looking at meals like this one.
India Has A Free Or Subsidized School Lunch Program Nationwide
Indian students attending most schools in the country will have access to free or affordable meals throughout the day.
Someone explained that this is a picture of their school-provided breakfast in India and that it costs around 50 cents.
Indian School Cafeteria Lunch
This photo shows a cafeteria lunch from a school in India.
The caption explained that the tray of food would have only cost the student about $1 to buy and it certainly looks like enough food to fill them up for a while.
Student Lunch In India
This is another example of a cafeteria lunch offered to students in India.
It looks like rice and curried dishes are fairly standard on the menu with an optional meat choice that's usually chicken.
Indonesian Lunch In The Air
A pilot decided to share a picture of their lunch in the cockpit that consisted of local cuisine from Indonesia.
The lunch includes "Nasi Kuning, a rice dish from Manado, fresh tuna sashimi, and Kleppertart."
Lunch From A Turkish University Costs Around 30 Cents
This spread of chicken and pasta is a fairly typical lunch served at a Turkish University.
The student who shared the image added that the meal costs only around 30 cents.
A Free Lunch In Sweden For Students
This brunch-inspired lunch is made for students attending classes in Sweden and it's "100% free!" according to the student who shared the photo.
It looks delicious and it's not exactly surprising considering the Scandinavians do most things right.
The Average Serbian School Lunch
This mixture of wintery-looking food is from a Serbian cafeteria in a college.
The student who shared it noted that it's a fairly "average lunch" for a weekday and costs approximately €0.60.
American School Lunches Are Subpar, To Be Honest
The United States has one of the worst reputations for "free" or subsidized school lunch programs and you're about to find out why.
This boiled hot dog and beans platter is actually one of the better American school lunches. Buckle up.
Mozzarella Sticks Are The Main Course In This American School
An American student shared this photo of their school-provided lunch in North Carolina, USA.
The box features five mozzarella sticks, presumably fried, an apple, and a carton of white milk.
Kentucky Fried Chicken-Style American Lunch
This is one of the best American school lunches that was shared online.
It includes mashed potatoes and gravy, corn niblets, a carton of white milk, some kind of pastry dessert, and of course, fried chicken.
Sloppy Joe Sandwich From American Cafeteria
America strikes again with this cafeteria lunch that includes a sloppy joe-style sandwich (meat sauce on a bun) with cheese and a potato side.
This is one of those lunches where you have to remember not to wear a white t-shirt before eating.
Packaged Grab-And-Go Lunches Are Popular In Some American States
In this school district in the U.S., there is a focus on packaged food in free lunches for students.
This specific lunch features baby carrots with no dip, a corndog, and a small white milk.
German Kids Do Not Skip Their Vegetables
An educator from Germany shared this picture of one of the class lunches for primary school students.
It seems like fresh veggies are on the menu for the kiddies! At least there's lots of dip.
Glowing Tap Water On The USS Nimitz
When the trend of "sharing lunches" took off on Reddit, some American soldiers and sailors decided to get in on the action.
This particularly insane, apparently glowing liquid came straight out of the tap on the USS Nimitz naval ship. Commenters determined the dye is used to detect leaks in the pipe system but is a harmless and tasteless drink.
A Sailor's Lunch Provided On A Navy Ship
The caption on this sad lunch photo said, "I see your school lunch and I raise you a dinner on a US navy ship."
It looks like the leftovers of a terrible TV dinner.
This Guy Can Confirm Navy Meals Are Terrible
In response to the above photo, another American Navy sailor uploaded this sorry excuse for a sandwich and called it "the 7th fleet's finest."
If this is what American sailors are eating regularly, there's a serious problem!
Lunch At A Remote Mine Site In Australia
This packaged lunch is not from a school, but a job site in a remote part of Australia.
The team of miners is not cutting corners when it comes to lunch and their various food parcels prove that.
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