From Lunchboxes to School Lunches: How Times Have Changed the Way Kids Eat

Back when I was in elementary school, school lunches were not very common. Although Taiwan technically introduced a school lunch program during the 1950s with support from the United States, hot meals were still not widespread in the 1980s. Most of us brought lunch from home or had it delivered by our parents. Every day at noon, the school gate would be crowded with parents carrying lunch bags, and we would rush back to the classroom with our warm lunchboxes, eager to dig in. For many families, lunch was both a daily challenge and a heartfelt ritual, especially for moms who had to come up with something tasty and creative every single day.

Lunchbox Memories from Childhood

Those lunchbox years were full of little moments that have stayed with me. Some students could not wait and would sneak bites before lunchtime. At first, they got caught by the teacher, but over time, some became experts at quietly eating half their lunch without anyone noticing. Once the bell rang, the whole classroom would come alive. Everyone opened their lunchboxes at the same time, checking out each other’s food, swapping dishes, or pushing desks together to eat with friends.

The most envied students were always the students on duty for that day as they were allowed to leave class five minutes early to fetch the steamed lunchboxes. That short window of freedom felt priceless. A few kids would even sneak off to the school shop for snacks as their side dishes. By the way, I personally found the lunch steamer box a bit scary. It was dark, damp, and way too hot inside. It always felt like something spooky might jump out when the door opened.

(Source: UDN Time)

I also used to envy the kids whose parents brought them lunch from outside. It looked special and felt a little glamorous. I would quietly hope that maybe my mom would show up one day with something different from the usual homemade lunch, just so I could enjoy a new flavor and catch a quick glimpse of her. Looking back, those lunches were more than just meals. They were little snapshots of childhood, packed with care and emotion.

(Source: UDN Time)

The Shift to School Lunches

These days, most elementary schools in Taiwan provide lunch to all students. And honestly, for today’s parents, it feels like a gift. Especially if you have a picky eater at home, you will understand exactly why.

At our house, no matter how many tricks I try, my daughter refuses to eat certain vegetables. She would rather go hungry than eat something she dislikes. My husband once heard that some preschool teachers forced children to eat their vegetables, sometimes even to the point of making them sick. Ever since then, he has been firmly against making kids eat anything by force.

But then something surprising happened. Those same vegetables, once placed in a school lunch tray, were suddenly more acceptable. I am not sure if it was the teacher’s authority or the structured setting, but my daughter actually started eating them. Even the ones she claimed to hate. Sometimes just a few bites, but that was already a small miracle. That was when I realized how lucky we are to have school lunches. They not only take the burden off busy parents but also give our children a better chance at eating balanced meals.

More Than a Meal: The Social Meaning of Lunch

School lunch is not just about nutrition. It plays a big role in social development too. When all the children eat the same meal, line up together, serve themselves, and sit down to eat in a shared space, they start to build a different kind of lunch memory. Through this daily routine, they learn responsibility, patience, and how to take care of themselves.

They also learn from one another. My daughter would come home and say things like, “The carrots tasted like dried fruit today,” or “One boy said the bean sprouts were really crunchy,” or “Everyone finished the curry today,” and even “My classmate did not want his soup, so I helped him finish it.” The vegetables she refused at home suddenly became less scary because a friend said they were good.

Lunch at school marks a shift from the private world of home to a more public and social space. Children no longer eat only what they know. They start to adapt, to accept different tastes, and to develop habits that help them live with others. They learn to eat on their own, follow a routine, and understand how to share space and time with their peers.

School lunches have done more than save parents from daily lunch stress. They have created shared moments and quiet milestones in our children’s lives. While kids today might miss out on the noisy fun we had during lunch back in the day, they are building something else. They are learning to eat together, to follow shared rules, and to create memories that belong not just to them but to an entire classroom growing up side by side.