Japan
Japanese cafeteria meals consist mainly of rice and fish, normally with a small side dish of noodles (served cold or warm). Occasionally kids’ll be “treated” to Western comfort food, like hot dogs or spaghetti. Most meals are accompanied by milk.
Korea
Korean cafeteria meals are eaten out of sectioned metal trays, usually with five sections. Filling the sections usually goes like this: the two biggest sections have rice and kimchi or soup, and the three smaller sections are filled with sides of vegetables and fish. For a beverage, the kids are given a highly popular sweet yogurt drink.
France
Children are exposed to fine cuisine just as the adults are in France. They’ll be served fine cheeses as a side dish, a salad as a starter, a substantial main dish like a stew or baked half chicken and a nice dessert like custard.
Sweden
Swedish kids’ dishes are hearty and straightforward. Almost all meals are accompanied with a cracker-like whole grain “bread” called knäckebröd. The plate will be filled with boiled potatoes, cabbage and often stewed meat or Swedish meatballs. For a beverage, the children drink lingonberry juice.
Czech Republic
Czech children eat a lot of soup, and hearty meat dishes with thick, creamy sauces over rice. One popular dish is diced chicken with sautéed mushrooms and onions in a bouillon sauce over long grain rice.
Italy
Italian kids eat well, with most school cafeterias gathering their ingredients from local sources. Many meals are centered around a pasta or risotto dish, with salad served as a separate dish. Meat will only be served one or two times a week.
Singapore
Singapore cafeteria meals are sectioned off similar to Korean dishes. In the largest section you’ll find a noodle, meat or steamed vegetable combination. In a very small section is pickled cabbage. Another section will have mostly noodles, and another large section will have more meat. Finally one last small section will have a few pieces of an isolated vegetable.
Slovakia
Slovakian children usually enjoy good bread, some cold vegetable or salad and a cold fish like smoked mackerel. A few pieces of fruit and a treat like a chocolate bar will be served on the side. Lunches are mostly cold.
Brazil
Brazilian school lunches are substantial, typically with six sections in a tray. In a main section you’ll find rice and beans, in another a bread roll, in another a small salad, in a second main section stewed meat, and finally a piece of fruit.
China
Chinese children eat meals based around a lot of fish. The fish is sometimes served whole, with the head still intact. Rice and steamed vegetables will be served as side dishes, as well as pickled vegetables. A small bowl of broth soup is served separately.
