THANKS MICHELLE: Look At How ‘Poor’ Countries School Lunches Compare to the U.S.

Thanks for nothing Michelle, literally. Signed, public school students in America.

Mouthwatering photos of school lunches served around the world reveal even children in Ukraine, Estonia and Greece are treated to delectable meals each day. School children in America, meanwhile, aren’t nearly so lucky.

Whereas a kid in France might be treated to a juicy steak and a hunk of brie, the richest country in the world’s youths are more likely to receive unidentified meat served alongside little more than a starch like white pasta, fries or a roll.

The contrasts between America’s school meals and those in far less fortunate economies are stark and suggest Michelle Obama’s push for more healthful lunches nationwide may not be enough.

The first new school lunch standards championed by Michelle Obama have been phased in over the last several school years.

In addition to whole grain requirements, the rules set fat, calorie, sugar and sodium limits on foods in the lunch line and beyond. While many schools have had success putting the rules in place, others have said they are too restrictive and costly.

Read more: Daily Mail

Here are some photos to compare.

Here is the US lunch — Mystery mash with chocolate milk, an orange wedge, and paste.  No, wait, that’s applesauce.

Here are clockwise from top left:  Ukraine’s version of sausage and mash; Brazil’s plantains, rice and black beans; beetroot salad and pea soup in Finland and steak with beans and carrots in France

Below, you can see what South Indian school children eat.  White rice, sambar (dhal), smoked gourd vegetable stir-fry, curd, buttermilk and kesari, a type of sweet dessert made from semolina

Estonian schools serve rice with a piece of meat and purple cabbage. They also have bread and a get a cup of chocolate drink.

UK school lunch of hotdogs and beans, a baked potato, corn on the cob, slice of melon and a box drink.

Italy has some pretty amazing lunch, too.  Italian children get pasta, fish, two kinds of salad, rocket and caprese, a bread roll and grapes.

Finland lunch is mainly a vegetarian affair of pea soup, carrots, beetroot salad, crusty roll and sweet pancake with berries to finish.

These are school meals from Alba, Spain.  Left: white flesh peaches, strawberries and yogurt melts,

Left: white flesh peaches, strawberries and yogurt melts, cous-cous, broccoli, cucumbers and roasted salmon.Poached apple pears, strawberries and blue berries, boiled swede and fresh garden peas

Right:  Poached apple pears, strawberries and blue berries, boiled swede and fresh garden peas

Kids in South Korea get a healthy lunch filled with veggies —  broccoli and peppers, fried rice with tofu, Kimchi (fermented cabbage) and fish soup.

Even Old Havana, Cuba’s meals look better than the ones Michelle approves of.

Rice, a chicken croquette, a piece of taro root and yellow pea soup.

Japan serves up fried fish, dried seaweed, tomatoes, miso soup with potatoes, rice (in the metal container), and milk.

Spain serves wholesome food — a seeded roll, shrimp with brown rice, gazpacho and tri-colour peppers. Dessert is half an orange.

And finally, Greece’s school lunch which is also a feast for the eyes.

Baked chicken with orzo, stuffed grape leaves, salad of cucumber and tomatoes, yogurt with pomegranate seeds and two oranges.