Rich meals for children in different countries reflect various aspects of culinary culture.
Have you ever wondered what a typical lunch looks like in school cafeterias in countries like England, France, Japan, or the Middle East? With the criteria of being nutritious, portioned appropriately, and diverse in dishes, the lunch trays of students from around the world can somewhat express the culinary traditions of their respective countries.
Let’s take a look at what school lunches look like in the following countries:
Paris, France: Pike fish, green beans, and Paris mushrooms.
Lambersart, France: A hearty lunch including rice, salmon, ratatouille, a slice of bread, salad with celery and carrots, an orange, and a doughnut.
Moriyama, Japan: Curry rice, salad, and milk.
New York, USA: Baked beans, meatballs, carrots, broccoli, peaches, bananas, and chocolate milk.
Washington, USA: Grilled cheese sandwich, Southwest-style corn salad, fresh carrots, and canned pears or applesauce.
Seoul, South Korea: Rice, soup with rolled egg, bean sprouts, and plenty of kimchi.
Bamako, Mali: Doughnuts, although most students here prefer to go home for meals.
Buenos Aires, Argentina: Potatoes and empanadas with thinly sliced meat or a lunch box with milanesa chicken (chicken coated in egg and breadcrumbs).
Barcelona, Spain: This lunch includes vegetable soup, grilled veal with salad, a piece of bread, an orange, a banana, and water.
London, England: The meal on the right includes pasta, fresh broccoli, a slice of bread, and seasonal fresh fruit. Other options include stuffed peppers with rice and fresh broccoli, sponge cake with egg custard, and bananas.
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: Roti, curry, candy bar, sweet drink.
Havana, Cuba: Rice, chicken croquettes, a piece of taro, yellow bean soup, fries, and orange juice.
Quito, Ecuador: A packed lunch including a sandwich with ham, cheese, tomatoes, and lettuce, a canned drink, and an apple.
Singapore: A diverse meal with fried noodles, meat, and vegetables.
Jakarta, Indonesia: Rice, meatball soup, tofu, and vegetables.
Nablus, West Bank: Pita bread stuffed with olive oil and za’atar, a mix of herbs and spices.
Jammu, India: This homemade lunch includes flatbread, radish dish, and mango for dessert.
La Fria, Venezuela: Pasta with arepas (corn dough cakes).
Zhejiang, China: Rice, beans, and salad.
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