French School Lunches

  
In addition to the story on stone skipping mentioned yesterday, I caught an interesting story on CBS over the weekend about lunches served in French public schools.

The story features public schools in France that serve students gourmet five-course meals and provide parents with an extensive two-month menu so they can plan their family dinners to ensure that students enjoy balanced diets.  The school cafeterias are directed by professional chefs who prioritize food safety and seek to introduce students to the variety and quality of French cuisine.  I found the story to be fascinating, particularly in the sense that schools believe students should be taught to appreciate food and nutrition, just as any other subject.  I know that I could use the repeated lesson that meals are not a time to scarf food down, but are opportunities to share food and enjoy conversation with others.  Perhaps the learning experience could even be enhanced if students are encouraged to converse over their meals as to what they have been learning in school, reinforcing the lessons that are being introduced to them each day!

To watch the story, click on this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ovO18E-hgew