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OKNancy

(41,832 posts)

77. Just reading about school lunches takes me back to my high school lunches

Tue Apr 24, 2012, 04:42 PM

Apr 2012

For my Junior and Senior year, I lived in a small Oklahoma town ( pop. 5000) The lunches we had were incredible.
Everyday at about 11:00 you could smell the homemade from scratch yeast rolls the lunch ladies made. The smells filled the hallways.
By today's standards, the lunches may not have been "healthy", but they sure were good.
We always had fresh mashed potatoes, some days chicken fried steak with gravy ( beef country )
and the green beans were flavored with bacon and onions. Chili day was a treat we looked forward to, and also spaghetti day.
Desserts were usually cobblers. Peach, cherry, and apple brown Betty and sometimes chocolate chip cookies.

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For the heck of it, I looked up the Tulsa menu.. looks like a wide variety is offered, even for vegetarians

Elementary breakfast: http://www8.tulsaschools.org/1_Administration/03_STAFF_MEMBERS/_DEPARTMENTS/child_nutrition/_documents/pdf/Breakfast.pdf

Elementary lunch: http://www8.tulsaschools.org/1_Administration/03_STAFF_MEMBERS/_DEPARTMENTS/child_nutrition/_documents/pdf/Lunch.pdf

Middle and High school lunch:
http://www8.tulsaschools.org/1_Administration/03_STAFF_MEMBERS/_DEPARTMENTS/child_nutrition/_documents/pdf/Secondary.pdf

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What School Lunches Look Like In 20 Countries Around The World [View all] marmar Apr 2012 OP

Lunches have actually gotten better here in Florida. trumad Apr 2012 #1

looks like US covered three food groups - fries, dogs and 'za! NRaleighLiberal Apr 2012 #2

Don't forget the fourth ... zbdent Apr 2012 #7

What's that little thing in the upper right section of that USA styrofoam container? MADem Apr 2012 #8

It looks like the kid's chewing gum. robinlynne Apr 2012 #17

It's either that or Soylent Green. Uncle Joe Apr 2012 #37

Don't you mean... FedUp_Queer Apr 2012 #91

Wasabi ... or mucus n/t VWolf Apr 2012 #52

A lettuce spill Alcibiades Apr 2012 #62

That's what I was thinking--that salad was on the menu but the consumer either said MADem Apr 2012 #92

Might have been something that had just fallen off the ceiling? KansDem Apr 2012 #83

what is 'za? Liberal_in_LA Apr 2012 #75

Probably short for 'pizza' kentauros Apr 2012 #76

lol. thanks. Liberal_in_LA Apr 2012 #87

pizza! (it's what we called it years ago when I was in grad school!) NRaleighLiberal Apr 2012 #96

Kinda says it all. Hepburn Apr 2012 #3

If that's beef and not horse on the French menu, I'd love to be a kid in France! MADem Apr 2012 #4

When I spent a year at a French high school in the 1960s they served beer and wine in the cafeteria aint_no_life_nowhere Apr 2012 #36

OMG, I'd need a nap if I had wine at lunch! nt MADem Apr 2012 #94

That's nothing aint_no_life_nowhere Apr 2012 #102

When I lived in Spain (as a kid) we always had wine on the table at meals. MADem Apr 2012 #106

That's true aint_no_life_nowhere Apr 2012 #111

I went to school in Paris in the mid 80s JackintheGreen Apr 2012 #85

what's wrong with horse? nt awoke_in_2003 Apr 2012 #108

I can't eat My Friend Flicka. I don't characterize those who do negatively--just my choice. nt MADem Apr 2012 #109

I can understand... awoke_in_2003 Apr 2012 #124

USA! USA! USA! SammyWinstonJack Apr 2012 #5

lol We're number 65 We're number 65!! grantcart Apr 2012 #73

US = STFU and eat your cholesterol happy fat meal! n/t RKP5637 Apr 2012 #6

I want to go to school in Japan mactime Apr 2012 #9

It depends on how well "healthy" would go over... kentauros Apr 2012 #19

I had no idea Jamie Oliver was involved in this... MrMickeysMom Apr 2012 #72

I read later after that aired kentauros Apr 2012 #78

I don't. Warren DeMontague Apr 2012 #128

I know at least recently Idaho had done much better than neighboring brewens Apr 2012 #10

When was the last time anyone saw a food pic... -..__... Apr 2012 #11

As a person who has worked on food shoots.... AlbertCat Apr 2012 #20

oh come on NJCher Apr 2012 #98

That isn't representative of schools around here... Frustratedlady Apr 2012 #12

Very true. Like almost all issues in education: it's about the parents. But... MatthewStLouis Apr 2012 #16

This one's hilarious frazzled Apr 2012 #13

Freedom fries with catsup AND a mayonnaise based sauce, it looks like! nt MADem Apr 2012 #95

Sad but true... MatthewStLouis Apr 2012 #14

If you watched Jamie Oliver's series in a US school cafeteria Doremus Apr 2012 #104

Unless you live in Berkeley frazzled Apr 2012 #15

What's the per capita income of Berkley? nt Snake Alchemist Apr 2012 #21

$30,477 frazzled Apr 2012 #26

Perhaps per capita wasn't a good measurement. Median seems to be more representative. Snake Alchemist Apr 2012 #30

Also easily searchable frazzled Apr 2012 #35

And that was 2007. It's likely even higher now due to steady gentrification. Snake Alchemist Apr 2012 #39

It doesn't have to cost more frazzled Apr 2012 #55

Unfortunately, chicken nuggets are cheap and easy. Require less prep and less sanitizing. Snake Alchemist Apr 2012 #56

I see you didn't watch the video frazzled Apr 2012 #69

Can't watch video on this computer. Will watch later tonight. nt Snake Alchemist Apr 2012 #70

Post removed Post removed Apr 2012 #86

And that is the bottom line zeemike Apr 2012 #33

Isn't that number skewed by the fact that it's a college town? RZM Apr 2012 #47

Good grief, is this a decent school lunch or not? frazzled Apr 2012 #49

I'm sure they have great school lunches in Berkeley RZM Apr 2012 #57

I'd say your user name is appropriate gateley Apr 2012 #120

inspiring... if we keep working at it Tumbulu Apr 2012 #22

Again, as one who has worked of food shoots... AlbertCat Apr 2012 #24

There are districts that serve high nadinbrzezinski Apr 2012 #32

Wow! spinbaby Apr 2012 #44

Chinese school lunches are amazing. More food than you can eat. Suji to Seoul Apr 2012 #18

Americans could learn from that. AlbertCat Apr 2012 #29

Ummm. . .not really. Suji to Seoul Apr 2012 #41

i have a great friend in Nanjing! AlecBGreen Apr 2012 #103

What a disgrace. (nt) PotatoChip Apr 2012 #23

I wish every community could have a program like this... MsPithy Apr 2012 #25

My kid lost weight when she started taking her lunch. davsand Apr 2012 #27

According to this report, taking a lunch isn't allowed kentauros Apr 2012 #34

In my day there was no danger of obesity based on the intake from the tray TheKentuckian Apr 2012 #53

Frankly, my high school's food was so revolting we ate vending machine food by choice. davsand Apr 2012 #59

Grade school lunches are skimpy too, where I live bread_and_roses Apr 2012 #113

Minneapolis Public School lunches are even worse. qb Apr 2012 #28

I always took my lunch to school in JH and HS geardaddy Apr 2012 #60

Suffice I to say, veggies are icky nadinbrzezinski Apr 2012 #31

There is real reform in certain pockets of the USA Arugula Latte Apr 2012 #40

happily NJCher Apr 2012 #101

make vegetables taste good? Scout Apr 2012 #63

Well you could make them taste good nadinbrzezinski Apr 2012 #68

I love steamed Brussels sprouts drizzled with butter and closeupready Apr 2012 #79

Carbs are cheap 4th law of robotics Apr 2012 #89

Our meals could use some work no doubt 4th law of robotics Apr 2012 #38

What specifically leads you to believe they went out of their way... LanternWaste Apr 2012 #65

Look at how it's shot 4th law of robotics Apr 2012 #82

I question how representative some of these meals are XemaSab Apr 2012 #42

School lunches have changed over the years. xmas74 Apr 2012 #116

This was in the 90s XemaSab Apr 2012 #117

So was mine. xmas74 Apr 2012 #118

not all US lunches look like that.... Chakaconcarne Apr 2012 #43

Brazil looks a lot like what I remember our lunches. liberal N proud Apr 2012 #45

Lunch does not look like that here in this area of CA. IndyJones Apr 2012 #46

Honestly, they all look unappealing with Italy being the exception cabot Apr 2012 #48

Those Durn Europeans and their healthy socialist meals!!! Odin2005 Apr 2012 #50

Propaganda. Atypical Liberal Apr 2012 #51

+1 Johnny Rico Apr 2012 #58

The USA photo looks precisely as did the HS lunches served in the mid-eighties. LanternWaste Apr 2012 #66

I don't dispute that. Atypical Liberal Apr 2012 #71

Ah come on, you mean American kids don't get their food thrown at their tray from 4th law of robotics Apr 2012 #84

Thank you.....it's a stupid joke with a lame punch line. Joe the Revelator Apr 2012 #107

The fact that it is messily presented doesn't negate the fact that it's high fat, empty calories Arugula Latte Apr 2012 #122

I'm not disputing that. Atypical Liberal Apr 2012 #123

Embarrasing and disgusting. Dawson Leery Apr 2012 #54

Eat all your lunch, now. Children are starving in America. nolabear Apr 2012 #61

What the heck is that in the US one? chrisa Apr 2012 #64

Looks like the French get hamburger steak for lunch (at least in the photo). JDPriestly Apr 2012 #67

kick Liberal_in_LA Apr 2012 #74

Just reading about school lunches takes me back to my high school lunches OKNancy Apr 2012 #77

When I went to HS in San Diego in the fifties, WHEN CRABS ROAR Apr 2012 #80

Those Kenyan kids eating sliced avocado for lunch closeupready Apr 2012 #81

The food at my HS was mostly home made tech_smythe Apr 2012 #88

SO much white rice/white bread/white noodles. Kids need whole grains. SunSeeker Apr 2012 #90

Singapore and Italy are the winners in my opinion. bluestate10 Apr 2012 #93

A little clarity on Singapore.... drmjg Apr 2012 #121

Thank you for that bit of clarity. MADem Apr 2012 #125

That may be what one kid would choose ... spedtr90 Apr 2012 #97

We've sold nothing but cheese pizza w/ tater tots Nevernose Apr 2012 #99

In the D/FW area school district that I attended, most of the food we had was okay........... AverageJoe90 Apr 2012 #100

Like this isn't absurdly biased.....give me a break. Joe the Revelator Apr 2012 #105

Here's a sample Boston Public School elementary school menu--doesn't look bad, really. MADem Apr 2012 #112

Is that ALL we have in US schools? treestar Apr 2012 #110

i think they should ban fried potatoes for school lunches JI7 Apr 2012 #114

Almost everybody's else's school meals look healthier than ours. Beacool Apr 2012 #115

This might sound like a crazy question but HOW much Time do these students in other countries Justice wanted Apr 2012 #119

At my high school in NJ... TheCruces Apr 2012 #126

GREAT & HIGHLY INFORMATIVE! As is this: "What Cars Look Like in 7 Countries, Around The World!!!" Warren DeMontague Apr 2012 #127