School Lunches

Before I got to Sado, the local Board of Education asked me if I was going to pack a lunch or get a school lunch everyday. I decided to go with the school lunch because it was less to think about and seemed like a good way to interact more with the students and teachers. I was a bit concerned though, that maybe other teachers all brought their own lunch and I’d look like a silly foreigner eating a kid’s meal. Well, to my surprise, the vast majority of the teachers and school staff eat the school lunches. I was also surprised by a lack of dedicated lunch staff in Japan. The students actually serve lunch to other students and teachers. During lunch, about 5 kids will all put on white coats and hats and dish out the meals. They will assemble a tray for their teachers as well and serve us first, although the teachers don’t seem to start eating until everyone has been served.

The food all seems very balanced. Usually there is a bowl of rice, but sometimes we get a roll and some jam instead. There’s soup with seaweed and mushrooms or potatoes and carrots. The main plate always has some kind of vegetable dish and some kind of protein dish, usually chicken, fish, or tofu. I have heard beef is served on special occasions but I have not had any yet. A carton of local milk is also served daily. Apparently, the food is all locally produced in Sado, and this is how it is done all across Japan. As a result, the school lunches vary wildly depending on what crops are grown in the different regions of Japan. As for taste, it’s nothing to write home about (although I suppose that is exactly what I’m doing right now) but it’s not bad either. Overall, the meal costs about $3 a day and it is paid by every teacher on a monthly basis. I think the system here works well. The food seems healthy, it gives some responsibility to the students, and encourages eating locally.