What I Think of the Japanese School Lunch System

Personally, I don’t agree with the Japanese school lunch system because I think it’s unhealthy and processed. For example, nothing raw ever features on it. This is, I was told by one of the teachers because someone once got sick from fresh cucumber. Which is why everything is pickled, fried and lathered in perservativey sauces. Also, last week they ate whale and that really fucked me off.

Alas, like all things, there are two sides to the system. One of the good things about school-lunch is that everyone starts eating together. Which is a really sweet sight, to see ravenous kids politely waiting to commence demolition with their pals.

The other positive about school lunch is their attempt at internationalizing the dishes. I say attempt because some of the things that show up are plain ridiculous. “hot dogs”, “hamburgers” and “gratin” which are nothing like you’d expect. Today, school lunch was “Indian” curry served with naan bread which brought so much excitement to everyone’s faces that two teachers even took photos of it (yeah yeah, I know, it’s Asia, everyone photographs their meals but no, not school lunch guys, that’s one thing that’s not worth the click. Sorry lunch chefs :/). So yeah, I think that aspect of school lunch is a positive, especially for these inaka (countryside) kids. Cos God forbid they turn out like my Kiwi high-school math teacher and try Chinese food for the first time at 55!

If you are blessed enough to have an abundance of food choices, you should totes venture out. Food is culture, guys!

Image stolen from HERE. Hope you don’t mind, Miss.

review no28 sivam indian restaurant

After the novelty of authentic Japanese food wears off (and it will), it’s beyond gratifying to chow down on anything that isn’t flavored by the sea, fried or rice. However; the rice at newly opened Sivam Indian restaurant in Yunogo is an exception because it comes with authentic Indian curry (cooked by Indian chefs) and ginormous as-big-as-your-torso naan. In addition; they have vegetarian options which are scarce in Japan. Pictured above is a set lunch option of vege curry and naan for a mere 750 yen (about $8NZD)! Sivam also sells adorable pottery, chopstick stands (in the form of edamame, broad bean, mushroom and chilli-pepper), house-made carrot dressing, chilli powder and mukhwas, a colourful indian after dinner snack or digestive aid. Definitely worth a visit if you’re ever in Yunogo. In fact, Yunogo is becoming one of my fave hangouts!