10 of the best school lunch programs around the world

pulse

June 23, 2017 4:28 PM

School lunches get a bad rep in the US, but in certain schools lunchtime is as important as the academics themselves.

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Across the globe, particularly in countries that place strong value on education, lunchtime is as important as hiring good teachers and keeping up with the latest classroom technology.

Kids in Japan serve one another their lunch — no servers required. In France, kids dine on succulent meals of salmon and ratatouille.

Here's what the world leaders in school lunch are serving up.

At Munroe Elementary School, in Denver, Colorado, kids learn to grow their own vegetables in the school garden and chop them for later meals, such as a savory taco.

Singaporean students at the DEL-Care Edu Center in downtown Singapore enjoy breakfast, lunch, and dinner, since some parents work late. Chicken casserole and lotus root soup are frequently on the menu.

In Montevideo, Uruguay, students learn the farm-to-table mentality by milking local cows, growing produce, and helping in the cooking of various stews and roasted dishes.

In Spain, elementary-school students are treated to meals from professional chef Ana Maria Garcia, including foreign cuisine such as spaghetti and meatballs.

In Seattle, Washington, a city whose school lunches set a new standard for US cafeteria fare, students can eat grilled cheese sandwiches, southwestern-style corn salad,, and carrots.

Japanese students learn discipline and cooperation by serving lunch to one another. Often, the meals consist of soup, rice, and some preparation of beef.

Down in Australia, Nauru Secondary school serves up neat presentations of rice, potatoes, vegetables, and typically beef or chicken.

At the Anne Franck school in northern France, a common lunch will include salmon, rice, ratatouille, salad, bread, some fruit, and a doughnut for dessert.

Regulated by the federal government, a standard Swedish school lunch includes crackers with butter or margarine, potatoes, beans, salad, and vegetables. Non-vegetarian lunches often include fish.

South Korean lunches could pass for restaurant-quality meals, often including rice, beef, salad, and kimchi. (Although, the metal tray is a slight giveaway.)

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