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Should we copy the Japanese school lunch program? (Yes, obviously we should)
Posted on 10/14/25 at 2:08 pm
Posted on 10/14/25 at 2:08 pm
quote:
When it comes to school meal programs, Japan is in a league of its own. Often hailed as the “gold standard” for school lunches, Japan’s approach is globally recognized for its nutritious menus and deep commitment to nutrition education, leading to the healthy growth and lifelong well-being of its children.
?
In Japan, it’s not just about feeding students—it’s about educating them and promoting a sustainable food culture that leads to longstanding benefits for the entire nation. Let’s take a closer look at why Japan’s school nutrition system is considered one of the best in the world.
quote:
Nationwide Availability: 99.7% of public elementary schools and 98.2% of public junior high schools offer school meals.
Lower Obesity Rates: Japan’s school lunches have been credited with helping to maintain low childhood obesity rates. Studies show that children eating kyushoku (school lunch) regularly have better nutrient intake, including higher protein and fiber, than those who bring lunch from home.
Bridging Income Gaps: A study by Nobuko Murayama found that school lunches help bridge dietary disparities between low- and high-income households. On school lunch days, children from low-income families consumed similar levels of essential nutrients as their peers from higher-income households.
Why Japan's school nutrition program sets a global example
We always claim that we're the greatest nation in the world. But we're not the greatest at everything. When someone is doing something better than us as it is in this case, then we should copy them. Copy catting works great in the business world. There is no reason we can't adopt that practice with public policy.
To fast track this initiative we could set up a scholarship fund for people who want to study nutrition and have them have a minimum public service requirement for their scholarship.
Or we could just keep putting things like Pizza Hut in schools and wonder why we spend so much on healthcare.
53
Posted on 10/14/25 at 2:10 pm to Powerman
If you've ever watched videos on it, the amount of work and detail they put into it:
lol for the United States doing this in any city
lol for the United States doing this in any city
Posted on 10/14/25 at 2:10 pm to Powerman
nothing like a sponsored raising canes kids lunch
Posted on 10/14/25 at 2:11 pm to Fun Bunch
quote:
If you've ever watched videos on it, the amount of work and detail they put into it:
Seems to be worth the effort
Or we could get our kids to memorize dates for half the school day instead I guess
Posted on 10/14/25 at 2:12 pm to monsterballads
quote:
nothing like a sponsored raising canes kids lunch
Does this exist? Because I wouldn't be surprised if it did.
Posted on 10/14/25 at 2:13 pm to Fun Bunch
My kids school has a massive all stainless steel industrial kitchen ready to make healthy meals for our kids. We send our kids with lunch every day because all they do is use the microwaves on prepackaged food.
Posted on 10/14/25 at 2:13 pm to Powerman
sounds like something Mr. Michelle obama would want
no thanks commie
no thanks commie
Posted on 10/14/25 at 2:13 pm to Powerman
I wonder what two parent household rates look like in Japan.
Posted on 10/14/25 at 2:13 pm to Powerman
100%
Honestly, we should copy a lot about Japan.
It is at the top of my lists as places to live if I ever wanted to leave the USA.
After visiting, that country is amazing in nearly every way.
Honestly, we should copy a lot about Japan.
It is at the top of my lists as places to live if I ever wanted to leave the USA.
After visiting, that country is amazing in nearly every way.
Posted on 10/14/25 at 2:13 pm to Powerman
quote:
We always claim that we're the greatest nation in the world
We still are, but we don't claim to be the best at everything.
I don't mind looking into anything the japs are doing. They are uniquely different than we are, as they are ultra homogenous and have a totally different culture than we do, but it's hard to argue they don't know how to build a working system.
However, our kids are spoiled and will likely rebuke food they don't WANT to eat, and it will be a disaster if they're forced to eat healthily. And as far as educating our kids about nutrition at the point of lunch time? Consider me skeptical that the lessons would be worth the energy.
This post was edited on 10/14/25 at 2:14 pm
Posted on 10/14/25 at 2:13 pm to Powerman
At least my school district bans food delivery during the school day. Can you imagine how fat they would be, DoorDashing Canes multiple times a week?
Posted on 10/14/25 at 2:15 pm to Turbeauxdog
quote:
make healthy meals for our kids
Very few kids would eat the "healthy" food. It's been tried, and most of it just ends up in the trash, uneaten.
Posted on 10/14/25 at 2:15 pm to NIH
quote:
I wonder what two parent household rates look like in Japan.
Has precisely nothing to do with the topic at hand
Posted on 10/14/25 at 2:15 pm to Powerman
quote:
When someone is doing something better than us as it is in this case, then we should copy them.
Their homogeneous society and unique culture has certain benefits, and almost impossible to replicate in the U.S.
Posted on 10/14/25 at 2:15 pm to Fun Bunch
quote:Good luck getting a 6 y/o to eat raw fish and plain, white rice.
If you've ever watched videos on it, the amount of work and detail they put into it:
lol for the United States doing this in any city
Posted on 10/14/25 at 2:16 pm to m2pro
quote:
We still are, but we don't claim to be the best at everything.
We might only be the best at a handful of things though
Let's change that
Posted on 10/14/25 at 2:16 pm to Ghost of Colby
quote:
Their homogeneous society and unique culture has certain benefits, and almost impossible to replicate in the U.S.
Improving our school lunches doesn't require a homogeneous population
Posted on 10/14/25 at 2:17 pm to greygoose
quote:Japanese children are essentially “trained” to enjoy healthy foods.
Good luck getting a 6 y/o to eat raw fish and plain, white rice.
Hell, even their deserts are “healthy”.
The Japanese do food correctly.
Posted on 10/14/25 at 2:17 pm to greygoose
quote:
Good luck getting a 6 y/o to eat raw fish and plain, white rice.
We don't have to copy the menus exactly
It wouldn't have to be Japanese food...
Posted on 10/14/25 at 2:18 pm to Powerman
quote:No, but it requires a unified/homogenous mindset.
Improving our school lunches doesn't require a homogeneous population
That is where the USA fails. Our two major groups cannot agree on the most basic of facts.
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