FAQs
School lunches in Japan tend to reflect the country's homogenous food culture and include rice, rice-flour bread or noodles, soup, a main dish of fish or meat, one or two side dishes that are heavy on the veggies and legumes, milk, and, on special occasions only, dessert (cake at Christmas, star jellies for the Milky ...
Why are Japanese school lunches so good? ›
In many schools, a nutritionist creates the recipes, and sufficient consideration is given to the nutritional balance of the menus. The low cost can also be said to be a main feature of Japanese school lunches.
What do Korean students eat for lunch? ›
In general, Korean school lunches consist of rice, soup, kimchi, protein-focused side dishes that are based on meat, fish or tofu, vegetables or fruit. These foods are minimally processed and normally low fat, as other Korean dishes.
What does Japanese school lunch look like? ›
Typical Japanese School Menu
As mentioned, the school lunch menus consist of items from each major food group. Some foods that may appear in a lunch include grilled fish, fried rice with chopped vegetable bits, miso wakame (seaweed) soup, tofu seaweed soup, and miso soup.
What do Japanese typically eat for lunch? ›
The midday meal in Japan often consists of rice or noodle dishes such as ramen, soba and udon bowls. Many people will also take a boxed lunch, known as a bentō, to class or to work with them.
Do Japanese schools have lunch breaks? ›
Lunch time starts at twelve thirty and lasts for about 40 minutes. At public schools, where school meals are provided, the students are responsible for carrying the meals to their classroom - where they eat - and serving portions, and for cleaning up afterwards.
Which country has the best school lunch? ›
Japan: The Japanese school lunch program is considered to be one of the best, if not the best, in the world. There are many reasons as to why this is. For most Japanese schools, lunch is made fresh by cooks working at the school. Most of the time, lunches in this country come with fresh vegetables every single time.
Is school lunch free in Japan? ›
An education ministry survey found that about 30 percent of municipalities, or 547 entities, are offering free school lunches to all students in public elementary and junior high schools.
What two foods are served at every meal in Japan? ›
In addition to rice, every Japanese meal includes soup. It's almost always served hot. A miso-based soup (miso shiru) is the most common, and the ingredients are only limited by the chef's creativity.
What is a typical Korean lunchbox? ›
A dosirak is a Korean lunchbox, similar to the more well known Japanese bento. Like the bento, a dosirak can have all sorts of side dishes but almost always has rice, side dishes, and some main protein. For many years in Korea, it was customary for moms to pack lunch for their children.
Koreans usually ate two meals a day during the cold seasons, and three during the warm seasons.
What do Japanese eat for breakfast? ›
However, certain elements are commonly found in a typical Japanese breakfast. These include steamed rice, miso soup, grilled fish, pickles, natto (fermented soybeans), tamagoyaki (rolled omelet), nori (seaweed), and a variety of side dishes such as vegetables, tofu, or salad.
What do Japanese high school students eat for breakfast? ›
A traditional Japanese breakfast, like in the picture, might contain grilled fish, rice, miso soup, and Japanese pickles. Often, people eat the rice by rolling it up in a sheet of nori (dried seaweed) and dipping it in soy sauce. Another popular breakfast dish is natto, pungent fermented soy beans.
What do Japanese kids pack for lunch? ›
Bento are generally packed with rice and side dishes in a so-called bento-bako, or lunch box. Lunch boxes come in all sizes and shapes, including square and oval, and, apart from rice, are packed with everything from fried eggs and hamburger to sausages and vegetables.
What is the most popular school lunch in Japan? ›
Japanese School Meals: Curry and Rice a Firm Favorite for Students Past and Present. A survey of children and their parents found that both groups enjoyed or had fond memories of curry and rice at school lunches. In Japan, the school lunch system provides a set menu that changes daily.
What should I feed my Japanese student? ›
If you are hosting students from an Asian background, rice and noodles are staple foods so have a ready supply of these for meals and as snacks the students can prepare themselves. Additionally, a bowl of steamed rice and chilli sauce at every meal will be greatly appreciated by these students.
Do Japanese students get free lunch? ›
Lunches are highly subsidized by the Japanese government and cost approximately $2.50 per day, but their most unique aspect is how the food is served. The students themselves are in charge of collecting meals from the prep room, serving them to their classmates, and then ferrying the dirty dishes away.