While parents are busy creating Instagram-worthy lunchboxes, the author highlights the importance of free school meals for all children, emphasizing the need for social media advocacy for this vital program. The article criticizes the focus on aesthetic lunches while overlooking the reality of food insecurity for many children.
Moving to France from the United States with her son, the author experienced a significant culture shock in the form of school lunches. Unlike the quick and processed meals served in American schools, French school lunches are elaborate four-course meals served on real plates with real cutlery and made with local, seasonal ingredients. They are designed to teach children about proper nutrition, balanced eating, and the value of trying new things. This experience highlighted the different cultural values around food in France, where lunch is not just a break but a sacred time for decompressing and nourishing the body.
