It’s no secret that US schools are encouraged to revamp their menu to provide healthier options to students. The staggering reality is that over one-third of American children are classified as overweight or obese. While we can argue that parents should mirror better eating and exercise habits at home, researchers can’t help but wonder what the correlation is between school lunches and the health of the children.
Since 2013, the federally-funded National School Lunch Program has been in place. During its time in operation, over 5 million lunches have been served to students. Because so many students are served these lunches every single day, it’s important to understand the importance of these meals and how they can influence student’s health long-term.
Sweetgreen, a health-oriented restaurant took time to create mock meals of student lunches served around the world. While we may be concerned with no children going hungry, the photographs of what we are feeding our kids clearly indicate we aren’t as concerned about what exactly they eat. Check out the pictures for yourself. It’s definitely an eye-opener.
Brazil
Look at the vibrant colors on this tray! Not only are kids getting a great variety of flavors, but this meal is definitely full of valuable nutrients that help kids stay focused for the entire day. Yes, those are baked plantains in the far right corner!
Finland
There are a ton of healthy foods on this plate! Check out that dessert pancake topped with fresh berries. Finland definitely knows what kids need to stay full for the entire day.
France
So. Much. Fresh. Fruit. France is bringing their A-Game when it comes to serving up what’s best for their students. Check out that perfect slice of meat.
Greece
This lunch is full of freshness. There’s no denying that students are getting a delicious meal that’s full of protein and vitamins. The ingredients are basic and the recipes are simple. This proves that it’s not complicated to serve up healthy options.
Italy
Italy is known as a food destination and obviously they aren’t skimping when it comes to their student’s lunches. Are we sure this isn’t a snapshot of a meal from a fancy restaurant?
South Korea
A good lunch is full of options. Check out the variety found on this South Korean lunch tray. It would be impossible to go hungry with this feast in front of you.
Spain
When is the last time you were served shrimp for school lunch? Spain is bringing it with this amazingly healthy lunch tray. Notice that yet again, this is a country that’s focused on freshness.
Ukraine
There’s nothing complicated about this meal, but it’s healthy and filling. This is similar to what a traditional Ukraine lunch would be like at home, and clearly the schools there are following suit.
USA
Pre-packed fruit cup loaded with sugar, chocolate chip cookie (likely frozen) and popcorn chicken–can you say processed? This is a typical school lunch served in the USA. You can see for yourself how it stacks up against the rest of the world.
The intent of Sweetgreens photoshoot was to showcase just how far behind we are when it comes to nutrition. Instead, they are committed to starting the conversation and promoting Sweetgreen lunch programs in schools around the country. To do so, they are encouraging people to donate to FoodCorps, which works to connect kids to real food by teaching them about healthier options.
We’ve heard the saying, “You are what you eat” and if that’s the case, we definitely need to see some changes. Focusing on better school lunches will create a healthier relationship with food, promote better eating, and encourage kids to lead a healthier lifestyle. I think that’s something we can all get behind.
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