“You are what you eat,” and you have heard this since you were young. But why is it, then, that the younger generation is still given low-quality food choices for lunch? Many nations are doing good by their students, offering fresh and balanced wholesome food choices, but some countries (*ahem* United States and UK) fail to provide the nutritious fare other countries offer as standard for young bodies to grow strong.
To share how culture and geography can affect the diversity and healthfulness of school lunches, Sweetgreen restaurant chain released a series of school lunches comparing the different options served around the world.
While most of these are more appetizing than what we grew up with, the diversity of foods offered in countries like Brazil, Italy, Greece, and France trump most other options due to their freshness of food, enticing display of colors, and balanced offerings.
ITALY
Italian children get pasta, fish, two kinds of salad, rocket and caprese, a bread roll and grapes.
UNITED STATES
Children in the US get fed popcorn chicken with ketchup, a spoonful of mashed potato, green peas, a fruit cup and a giant chocolate chip cookie for lunch.
BRAZIL
A meal of traditional flavors: Brazil’s rice and black beans, baked plantain, pork with peppers and coriander, green salad and a seeded roll.
UK
UK school dinner of frankfurters and beans, a baked potato, corn on the cob, slice of melon and a box drink.
JAPAN
In Japan, school children tuck into fried fish, dried seaweed, tomatoes, miso soup with potatoes, rice (in the metal container), and milk. Looks quite similar to airplane food…
GREECE
Greek school lunches feature baked chicken with orzo, stuffed grape leaves, salad of cucumber and tomatoes, yogurt with pomegranate seeds and two oranges.
UKRAINE
A serving of borscht (beetroot soup) with pickled cabbage, sausages and mash. Dessert is a sweet pancake.
SPAIN
Seeded roll, shrimp with brown rice, gazpacho and tri-colour peppers. Dessert is half an orange.
FRANCE
Brie, green beans, carrot, rare steak and pudding of kiwi fruit and apples is served in French schools.
SOUTH KOREA
South Korean children tuck into broccoli and peppers, fried rice with tofu, fermented cabbage and fish soup.
FINLAND
In Finland lunch is mainly a vegetarian affair of pea soup, carrots, beetroot salad, crusty roll and sweet pancake with berries to finish
What lunch(es) do you find most/least appealing? Comment below and share!
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