Checkout out some of these Lunches Around the World with Little Passports! They all look so good that I am not sure which one I want to try first. Tell me what you think and which one you think I should try out to begin with? Kids around the world are preparing to go back to school—that means homework, new friends and … lunch? Yes, that’s right! Let’s visit different countries and see what yummy food the school kids eat every day!
France– French children enjoy a 3 or 4-course meal that is made from high-quality ingredients, and are mostly made from scratch. The children all sit in the same eating area, the cafeteria. An interesting fact is that there are no vending machines in schools, because they’re banned due to the high sugar and fat content of the treats they carry. Typical school lunches here can have a variety of dishes and ingredients, such as grilled fish, salad, red beans, seasonal vegetables, garlic sausage, fruit salads and chocolate flan (just to name a few). Another perk is that the food is served on plates and eaten with real silverware!
Japan– In Japan, the school lunch ingredients are locally sourced and almost never frozen; in addition, the schools employ nutrition experts that work with kids and teach them the importance of good eating habits. Like the children in France, Japanese kids also eat in a community-like setting with their peers, and even their teachers! The children also wear white hats and robes to serve their classmates, which teaches them teamwork and respect. You can expect to find lots of rice, vegetables, fish, soup, and meat on the plate.
South Africa– South African school meals have natural ingredients such as corn, squash, sweet potatoes, and yams. There’s also rice, soft porridge, and meat that is sprinkled in with the vegetables. A special stew is made called potjiekos (named after a potjie, a three-legged pot), which originated from Dutch settlers. The cook puts vegetables, meat, potatoes, and spices into the pot, which is heated by small amounts of wood and twigs. After cooking, the result is a delectable stew!
Colombia– Colombian school lunch ingredients usually vary from region to region, but can contain rice, potatoes, fruit, beans, meatballs, and vegetables such as corn and avocados. There’s a special vegetarian menu also available, and children from 2 to 5 years old have their food cut and portioned into smaller sizes.
We hope you enjoyed our lunch trip around the world, and perhaps found inspiration to try new foods at your own dinner table!
I live in a small Georgia town that you most likely have never heard of and I LOVE it! My house is more than full as I am a single mother of four & caregiver to my aging mother and uncle. Lover of all things Outlander. Goes to the beat of her own drum woman.
Elle Briarson says
Love this! Very interesting to see what other Moms from around the world, feed their kids for lunch!
Betty Baez says
Very interesting! We should jump on board with france and ban vending machines or at least put healthier option in them and eliminate junk food from schools. Honestly I would love to try them all they sound great!
Karen Glatt says
I thought this blog post was very interesting about the different foods that are eaten in different countries. I know that France has a very healthy diet called the Mediterranean diet and we Americans should try to add some of these foods to our diet. It is so good for my health.
Tammy S says
I think this is very interesting. That is one thing that I think my daughter’s school could do much better at. They don’t have a lot of choices for lunch. Which is one of the big reasons I make her lunch everyday. I would love a Flan for dessert though.
Denise Taylor-Dennis says
I would like to try the stew from South Africa this sounds delicious. I have heard about the meals they sever to kids in France, this sounds like something they should adopt in the US.
MeltheCrafter says
Looks just delish! Thanks for sharing