What French Kids Eat For School Lunch

[Hammock Parties]

:bowdown:

I was standing inside my children’s public elementary school cafeteria, or “cantine” as the French call it, in our local town near Annecy, France. As part of my research into why French kids aren’t fat, the local city council gave me a tour of the public school’s cantine and kitchen and let me ask any question that came to mind.

There are many theories as to why the French, and French children in particular, do not suffer from weight problems, obesity, diabetes, and hypertension like their American counterparts. Eating moderate quantities of fresh and freshly prepared food at set times of the day is definitely one of the most convincing reasons why they stay lean. Daily exercise, in the form of three recess periods (two 15-minute and one 60-minute recess every day) and walking or biking to and from school, is another.

What do French kids eat?

Menus are set up two months in advance by the cantine management staff, and then sent to a certified dietitian who makes small “corrections.” The dietitian might take out a small chocolate éclair and replace it with a kiwi for dessert if she thinks there's too much sugar that week. Or she may modify suggested menus by adding more or fewer carbohydrates, vegetables, fruits, or protein to keep the balance right.

Almost all foods are prepared right in the kitchen; they’re not ready-made frozen. This means mashed potatoes, most desserts, salads, soups, and certainly the main dishes are prepared daily. Treats are included — the occasional slice of tarte, a dollop of ice cream, a delicacy from the local pastry shop.

First course: Cucumber and tomato salad

Main course: Veal marinated with mushrooms, broccoli

Cheese

Dessert: Apple tart



First course: Cabbage and tomato salad

Main course: Roast beef, potatoes, baked tomatoes with herbs

Cheese

Dessert: Kiwi



First course: Tabouleh (made with bulgur)

Main course: Sausages, zucchini

Dessert: Ice cream, apple



First course: Potato and pickle salad

Main course: Breaded fish, cauliflower

Cheese

Dessert: Peach

Where does the food come from?

“All our fruits, vegetables, fish and meat are sourced locally, some of them from local farms,” according to Dany Cahuzac, the city counselor in charge of school matters, including the cantine. The local bakery delivers bread, a staple of every French meal, fresh every morning. And every two days, there is at least one organic item on the menu. Once a month, an entirely organic meal is served. The only drink offered at lunchtime is filtered tap water, served in glass pitchers.

Just as important: how the kids eat.

As the children come streaming into the cantine, they sit down at tables of four that are already set and wait for older student volunteers to bring the first course to their table. The child who sits at the designated “red” chair is the only one who is allowed to get up to fetch more water in the pitcher, extra bread for the bread basket, or to ask for extra food for the table. After finishing the first course (often a salad), volunteers bring the main course platter to the table and the children serve themselves. A cheese course follows (often a yogurt or small piece of Camembert, for example), and then dessert (more often than not, fresh fruit).

[listopencil]

Originally Posted by BucEyedPea

They generally eat smaller portions. They are shocked at the size of a steak served in our restaurants. Also, Europeans think our food is flavorless. I think it's how they farm.

Well, the meals I have prepared for my children have changed over the last 25 years or so. Partially due to an increase in my cooking skills but my parenting skills as well. I did end up with four kids that will eat a huge variety of foods. They also have a tendency to eat in a relatively healthy way.

[Stewie]

Originally Posted by Baby Lee

FYP

Nope. That's out of the parent's pocket. There are some subsidies for low income families, but it appears to only cover about 60% of the cost at most. No one eats for free and the cheapest lunch with subsidy I could find is $3.

[wazu]

We have to figure this out. And not just in school lunches. Our school lunches are just a reflection of our cultural choices when it comes to food. America is great in many ways, but we are horrible with this for some reason. Myself included.

[BucEyedPea]

Here's an article, Lunches Around the World, covering school lunch in other countries in Europe et al. Look at that French plate and the menu under this link one!

Switzerland
School lunchtime in Switzerland is an hour-long (I repeat, an HOUR LONG!) and served at tables set with plates, silverware, and cloth napkins. Each child keeps a toothbrush at school so they can wash-up after their meal. However the term “there’s no such thing as a free lunch” applies here. Following their leisurely, elegant meal kids are required to bus their dishes, wipe down the tables, and sweep the floor - teaching children excellent domestic habits at an early age.

Well, the kids here could do that if they complain about the cost.

Norway's is the most American—'cept it's made at home. OMG I feel bad for those Australian kids! Vegemite sandwiches.


Here's another:

Korea
Like in Japan, kids in Korea take turns serving their classmates - teaching them responsibility and respect. The center of the meal is rice often paired with kimchi (a traditional Korean pickled dish made of vegetables with varied seasonings) and soup with side dishes of veggies and fish.

http://www.cozi.com/live-simply/what...s-around-world

[BWillie]

Poor kids

[BucEyedPea]

Originally Posted by listopencil

Well, the meals I have prepared for my children have changed over the last 25 years or so. Partially due to an increase in my cooking skills but my parenting skills as well. I did end up with four kids that will eat a huge variety of foods. They also have a tendency to eat in a relatively healthy way.

O.M.G four? They must eat you out of house and home.

[BucEyedPea]

Originally Posted by wazu

We have to figure this out. And not just in school lunches. Our school lunches are just a reflection of our cultural choices when it comes to food. America is great in many ways, but we are horrible with this for some reason. Myself included.

Many American parents are not educated in nutrition. Many also are though.

I used to see kids in preschool and Kindergarten just getting those Lunchables. It was disgusting. Easy though.

[listopencil]

Originally Posted by BucEyedPea

O.M.G four? They must eat you out of house and home.

They did. I am down to only two living with me. The older one is rarely home and she is saving up to move out. I still provide regular meals to my youngest but he cooks for himself quite a bit. As of next June my youngest will graduate from High School.

[Baby Lee]

Originally Posted by BucEyedPea

I ate my mom's growing up, tho' we did not have pickles in ours. Ours was seasoned with Italian dressing before adding mayo.

A lot of people do use pickles tho'. Generally, potato salad uses more vinegar.

German [vinegar], Mustard and Mayo mostly, with a little Curried and Loaded [w/sour cream as binder] in the mix.

[Stewie]

I'm pretty sure this would be cost prohibitive in the US. It's basically a restaurant on school grounds with "chefs in training" doing the cooking and serving. Kids sit at a table that's set with dinnerware and served by a wait staff. They are served four courses (at least) one at a time.



Starting when children enter school at age 3, school lunch consists of four courses: a vegetable starter (for example, grated carrot salad, or beet salad), a warm main course served with a side of grains or vegetables, cheese, and dessert. Why veggies first? Well, the French often do this at home for their first course; but they also know that hungry kids are more likely to eat the veggies if they are served first.

Fresh baguette, eaten plain, is also served. The kids drink water (there are no other drinks of any kind available at lunch). Dessert is usually fresh fruit, but a sweet treat is often served.

There is only one choice on the menu, and food is served to children at the table until they have finished primary school (at 12 years old). This may be why the place where lunch is eaten is called a ‘restaurant scolaire‘ (school restaurant). High-school students typically get two choices for each course and often eat in a ‘self’ (meaning a self-serve cafeteria), although many French parents are ambivalent about this self-service model (preferring the idea of a restaurant).

The French Ministry of National Education sets a minimum time requirement for children to sit at the table: 30 minutes.

[FD]

It's just a cultural difference. The French have a completely different way of thinking about food than most other cultures, particularly the U.S. They take it seriously and devote disproportionate time and money to doing it well. Should the American school lunch be overhauled? Yes, probably. But we really shouldn't try to become the French. It's an entirely different culture.

[Baby Lee]

Originally Posted by FD

It's just a cultural difference. The French have a completely different way of thinking about food than most other cultures, particularly the U.S. They take it seriously and devote disproportionate time and money to doing it well. Should the American school lunch be overhauled? Yes, probably. But we really shouldn't try to become the French. It's an entirely different culture.

Lunch is probably their most important meal, society wide. Don't eat too early or late.

Would be very different in Spain where lunch time is nap time and dinner is at 9-10 pm.

[BWillie]

Originally Posted by Stewie

I'm pretty sure this would be cost prohibitive in the US. It's basically a restaurant on school grounds with "chefs in training" doing the cooking and serving. Kids sit at a table that's set with dinnerware and served by a wait staff. They are served four courses (at least) one at a time.



Starting when children enter school at age 3, school lunch consists of four courses: a vegetable starter (for example, grated carrot salad, or beet salad), a warm main course served with a side of grains or vegetables, cheese, and dessert. Why veggies first? Well, the French often do this at home for their first course; but they also know that hungry kids are more likely to eat the veggies if they are served first.

Fresh baguette, eaten plain, is also served. The kids drink water (there are no other drinks of any kind available at lunch). Dessert is usually fresh fruit, but a sweet treat is often served.

There is only one choice on the menu, and food is served to children at the table until they have finished primary school (at 12 years old). This may be why the place where lunch is eaten is called a ‘restaurant scolaire‘ (school restaurant). High-school students typically get two choices for each course and often eat in a ‘self’ (meaning a self-serve cafeteria), although many French parents are ambivalent about this self-service model (preferring the idea of a restaurant).

The French Ministry of National Education sets a minimum time requirement for children to sit at the table: 30 minutes.

Wow it would really ****ing suck to be French. Thank god

[Mojo Jojo]

Can I get a link for the article, please. Would like to forward it on to some friends.
Thanks!!!

[Hammock Parties]

http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-14845...-to-shame.html