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I Want What Your Three Year Old Is Having

by Claire on June 13, 2012

I remember a French friend of mine posting of Facebook about the food in French schools to American schools (she had recently moved back home from the States). Her children had said “there is no comparison” when asked about the differences in school lunches.

You will not find me talking too often about school lunches (unless it is about box lunches I make). The reason for this is twofold. First, I choose a daycare for Samantha where I provide the meals, so I am exposed to school lunches a bit less at the moment. Second, I feel that the number of resources working to change the school lunches outnumber the number of resources working to change the food culture at home.

That said, the school lunch system in the United States sucks. Much of the “food” served there I would not even consider food. As such, I fully support the efforts to change what our children are feed in school, here and around the world.

So when one of my challenge takers, Jen from Seattle, sent me a link about the food in France’s schools, I was intrigued. When I got done watching it, I was downright jealous. France’s three year olds get a five course meal with a different cheese each day? Samantha would love that, and I wouldn’t have to pack her food! I would love to eat that as well!

For inspiration of what our school lunches should look like, check out the video below:

School lunches being prepared and served in France.

Permalink | Comments (8)

Comments (8) -

Thomasina
6/13/2012 10:28:56 PM #

That was very interesting!  I have been to the school board here in MD meeting where they laugh at those proposing healthier lunches.  Yes, in Anne Arundel County I see they are serving lunches in the summer.  But the food is GROSS!  I think the French have it right! I would love to eat that well too. My children have multiple food allergies and I know it is due to the poor processing we have in the States.  As they would say in France C'est la vie

Reply

Claire
6/14/2012 7:43:36 AM #

Thanks Thomasina,

I one hundred percent agree with you. I would not feed my Samantha the food in most American schools, which is why I pack her lunch. I have food allergies to dairy and eggs, and it is ridicules how much food that should not have these things in them do. People look at me weird when I pass on the sandwich meat because I can't confirm it is dairy free. The processed world we live in... needs to change!

Thanks,
Claire

Reply

Emma Auty
6/14/2012 3:58:05 AM #

Wow!  wow.  That just proves it´s possible doesn´t it.  Like my grandma always says ´Where there´s a will, there´s a way.´  We´re living in Spain and the school lunches here are much more like the French offerings.  The children eat proper food and don´t then turn their noses up at it at home.
Great video thanks.

Reply

Claire
6/14/2012 7:49:29 AM #

Thanks Emma,

It is good to know that some places have it right. It is funny how giving children real food makes them like real food, isn't it? I was surprised the other day when Samantha, and the tender age of one, happily ate blue cheese. Most people would assume no one year old would like blue cheese, and wouldn't ever try it. But as it turns out, she likes having the good stuff these days.

Thanks,
Claire

Reply

Roxi @ MommyRoxi.com
6/14/2012 4:10:41 AM #

Oh my gosh. I am jealous! We should have this everywhere! Public and public schools! So so jealous! May I share this?!

Visiting from vB

Roxi
www.MommyRoxi.com

Reply

Claire
6/14/2012 7:52:31 AM #

Thanks Roxi,

I completely agree. This should be the norm. The way I figure it, I should not feed my daughter food I would not eat, and I should not eat food I would not feed my daughter. That goes for school lunches as well. Yes, of course you may share this.

Thanks,
Claire

Reply

Barb W.
6/14/2012 9:35:24 AM #

I am amazed by the lack of nutrition in our school lunches, we are certainly in desperate need of reform.  When you see what other schools in the world are doing, it's no wonder we have such health issues here.

Reply

Claire
6/14/2012 8:23:03 PM #

Thanks Barb,

It does amaze me what can be labeled as "healthy" in school lunches. The more parents care about what their children eat, and providing good food for their children no matter where they are, the more pressure will be put on the schools to improve. It takes time, but we can make food a positive again, instead of the negative it often is these days (for health and culture).

Thanks,
Claire

Reply

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