Несъедобные обеды американских школьников

[peacetraveler22]

At my school, there was no cafeteria. Each morning, my mom awoke early and packed lunch for my sister and me. It grew monotonous, eating the same sandwiches and fruit each day. Secretly, I dreamed of being like my friends who went to public schools, lining up each day to have some old woman with a net around her hair throw slop on my plate. In the U.S., there's constant debate over what school children are fed in the cafeteria. A lot of schools have removed snack and soda machines, and guidelines about nutritional values for school meals are always shifting. Over the weekend, I looked at the menu from my nephew's elementary school, listing the meal choices for each day in the month of May. Common choices include pizza, tacos, hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken nuggets and pastas, all served with some type of vegetable and potatoes or rice. There's always one healthy option like grilled chicken or fish, and a wide-variety of fresh fruit is available for purchase. Yet only the most disciplined of children would pick such options when there are tastier and more indulgent choices placed in front of them each day. All of this creates a very sad picture on the white tray. I grew curious, and began to read about school lunches around the globe, and here's what I discovered!

Look at the culinary delights thrown on these plates from Brazil, Greece and France. The Greek dish looks especially appetizing to me, while the plate from Ukraine has the same sad and pathetic appearance as the USA lunch, filled with greasy sausages, potatoes, cabbage, borscht and a pancake.


If the topic is of interest to readers, I can take my camera and join my nephew for lunch one day to explain more about what school kids in the USA eat. Of course, many parents still pack lunches for their children, so they aren't forced to eat this cafeteria slop each day. However, I think there's some level of excitement for most young kids to go through the cafeteria line each day, pick from a choice of foods, and create their own meals. It's a rite of passage for almost all American school children.

What did you eat during your school days? Cafeteria food, or homemade lunches? I have no idea what Russian children are served in cafeterias or dining halls, because I've never once visited a school there. Has it changed a lot from the Soviet era? What happens if the family has no money to pay for a child's lunch, does the Russian government subsidize it?

Comments

[khanid.livejournal.com]

As I remember I left from home at 7.15, so it was always dark from November to March.
And different schools have different time tables. So some of them had only 4-5 hours of classes, other have 6-7 hours of classes/6 days per week.

[vik-kis.livejournal.com]

По-моему, в Советском Союзе везде еда была отвратительной. Так как мои родители по работе ездили по стане, я за 7 лет, что училась там, поменяла 5 школ - и ни в одной не могла есть, так же как и в летнем лагере. Запахи около столовой всегда были ужасными - до сих пор иногда такой запах встречаю (например, недавно в столовой 2-го Эрмитажа на "Чёрной речке" - сразу аж передёргивает, бегу оттуда сломя голову - тогда как другим людям ничего, находятся там спокойно и даже едят).
Мне вообще в детстве казалось, что обед в школе только для того, чтобы мальчишки покидались зелёным консервированным горошком и ещё для радости тех двоих счастливчиков, кто уйдёт раньше с уроков накрывать на стол.)))
Но в школе было легко - там никто не следил, ешь ты или не ешь, так что можно было выпить компот с булочкой или какао с печеньем, если повезёт - поковырять картошку пюре или съесть салат из капусты с морковкой и не мучить себя супом, макаронами и серыми тефтелями или коричневыми кусками мяса с жилами. Бр-р. Хуже было в детском саду, куда меня некоторое время водили родители - там есть заставляли. А я не ела. И когда все дети после обеда шли спать в кроватки, меня оставляли за столом с ложкой в руке - но даже эта пытка не могла меня заставить есть непонятно что и днём я в саду почти никогда не спала, клевая головой над тарелкой. Мой недосып довольно быстро распознала мама и устроила воспитательницам скандал - хотя мне было года четыре, я отлично помню, как она прессовала тёток, чтобы они не смели заставлять ребёнка есть.))) Нет, что ни говорите, в СССР еда была просто ужасная.
Единственное, что было хорошо - дежурные следили, чтобы все мыли руки перед едой. Сейчас за гигиеной никто особо не смотрит.

[absurdoperevod.livejournal.com]

Hmmm. I graduated three years ago. My school wasn't special or something, but the food was pretty good (it didn't look pleasant usually, but it was healthy and tasty anyway. You know, that kind of things which you should try first and only then you understand that it's good). We had breakfast and lunch. They were free for small children (1-4 grades) and for kids from big families or kids without a parent and so on. Others paid (or they could take a free lunch/breakfast instead a kid who didn't go to school that day but paid for food. But this option wasn't official)
Also, there were some snacks too, but for this "food" you always had to pay.

[vik-kis.livejournal.com]

Да, во Франции отлично кормят. Нигде я так вкусно и сытно не ела, как во французской школе - не считая хороших ресторанов, конечно.)))

[absurdoperevod.livejournal.com]

The last part of the last sentence sounds pretty epic 0_o

[vik-kis.livejournal.com]

But not at school. In а school canteen you can eat whatever you want and as much as you want. The choice was great - rice, meat, salmon, yogurt, all kinds of vegetables and fruits, including melon, watermelon and berries. My experience in a French school was just amazing - but it was very good and prestigious one.
The most important thing: the director and the teachers themselves were eating there the same. In a Russian school of the same level the director never make an appearance in a canteen.

[sergei000.livejournal.com]

A post in english made it almost to the top of the russian section of this site? Not bad:) Im impressed

[sergei000.livejournal.com]

On the topic at hand, in Australia, most people pack their kid's lunches. Mine was packed and I had similar issues to you, where I was getting tired of the monotonous process and lack of choice of packed lunches. In high school, i was making some money and was able to buy some food from the cafeteria/canteen myself. In general, i think the food we have in our schools in Australia is not much healthier than US, but over the last 5 years or so, a general shift towards healthy food can be seen. During my time in USSR school, lunch was always provided by the school. Back then it seemed quite tasty, most of the time. IM sure if I would try that same food now, I would not be impressed.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Your English lessons worked, because you write in the language very well (at least based on this comment you just posted). I will not eat any food if I don't know what it is! This is the biggest problem I had in Asia. Many foods looked slimy and I didn't know what they were. Insect? Chicken? Dog? :))) So, I mostly ate rice there.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Yes, it's normal for kids in America to have pizza, chips and cake at birthday parties. Of course, such foods are fine to eat on occasion. They will not kill you! So, what do kids in Russia eat during birthday and holiday celebrations? I find it hard to believe kids are eating vegetables and no cake at birthday parties. There's junk food everywhere, it's a matter of discipline as to whether you eat it or not. :)

[komshuk-off.livejournal.com]

As I remember, the school meals were like Ukrainian food.The same Russian food is more affordable than meals shown on other pics. In my opinion, a modern school menu in Russia depends on school's prestige.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Because I opt into the Cyrillic segment, and all of my subscribers are Russian speakers who read/write English well. A few people read me through online translators. I communicate with only a Russian speaking audience in my blog, not Americans. :)

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Someday I'll return to Australia! I visited Sydney a long time ago, but it's just soooo far away!

[sergei000.livejournal.com]

Yeah, depends from where though:) We are pretty close to NZ or Vanuatu:) Or PNG:)

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

The school lunches in the other photos look gourmet! I find it hard to believe they serve such fancy school lunches in France and Greece, but the article I read claims it to be true. :)

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Yes, we should never judge a book by its cover. The same is true for food. :) Sometimes things look disgusting in appearance, but are very tasty!

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

I'm in the Washington, DC area. So, it's far! Not sure I could survive such a long flight again.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

I used to not like this soup, but recently a Ukrainian babushka made it for me here in the USA and it was delicious! So, now I will eat it, but only if it's home-made. Not from a cheap cafe. :)

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Now this obesity epidemic is spreading everywhere, including Russia. In my class, we didn't have many overweight children either. Btw, it's the same type of "meat" served in our schools. It's also composed of some "filler" such as bread and spices, etc. I hate ketchup or any condiments like mayo, salad dressings, mustard. I eat everything plain. Boring. :)

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

According to this article, yes! http://baton.com/school-lunches-around-the-world/

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Hello! Thanks for the detailed answer. :) You've written a mini encyclopedia entry about school food during Soviet times. :))

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Kompot is delicious, but we don't have this drink in the USA. However, I think it would be easy to make. Perhaps I will try to make some this summer. :)

[111 111 (from livejournal.com)]

В школе всегда были полезные завтраки - каши, омлеты, молочные продукты, а обед отличается от западного тем, что у нас не принято есть всухомятку, то есть всегда есть первое блюдо в виде супа и это правильно. В обеде всегда есть свежие овощи, мясное или рыбное блюдо и гарнир. По калорийности это меньше нежели есть западный обед, который очень плотный. Можно есть завтрак и такой обед, но если ты при этом не ужинаешь или ужинаешь только фруктами и к этому приучена вся семья. Голодных детей в России нет, во всяком случае тех, кто ходит в школу. Если семья малообеспеченная, то дети будут кушать бесплатно. А еще у нас детские сады лучше, чем в США, где дети могут спать на каких-то раскладушках одетые, а кушать то, что им дала мама с собой, то есть просто бутерброды. Это неправильно.

Странный украинский завтрак: ни сала, ни горилки...

[nonamexnoface.livejournal.com]

.

[zirazira.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately it's normal not only for birthdays but everywhere. All the kid's menu at restaurants consists only nugets, pizza, french fries or mac'n'cheese. I agree to eat that on occasion, I also can have a burger from time to time, russian salads with mayo are not much better, agree. But sometimes like at birthdays or holidays you have no choice. You can't say your kid ''no sweets for Halloween''! because everyone is having it!
On Russian birthdays of course kids have a cake. But very often we bake it ourselves which means we try to make it from the best ingredients possible. If we bye cakes they are not that sweet, taste different. May be it's a matter of habit but american cakes are ok only at Whole Foods for me. What about food Russian kids can eat for birthday all kinds of healthy food which adults eat. Chicken, potatoes, pies, veggie salads, pancakes. A variety of food but is will not be deep fried or ever frozen. Only fresh and usually cooked by Mom.