French School Lunch Menu (2025): What Kids Really Eat in France

This menu is part of my yearly series documenting what French children are actually served at school.
Previous edition: French School Lunch Menu (2022)

What the French School Lunch Menu Looks Like in 2025

What does a French school lunch menu really look like in 2025? Below is an example from a public elementary school in the Haute-Savoie region of France—one full week of lunches served this December.

In France, the daily school lunch is organized into five components: first course, main course, vegetables, dairy, and dessert. This structure hasn’t changed in decades, and it continues to shape how children eat, taste, and discover food.

If you want a deeper look at how the system works overall, you can read → French School Lunches: How They Work Today.

Core Requirements for French School Lunches

Across France, all public elementary school menus include:

• at least 50% local and/or organic ingredients
• at least one fully vegetarian meal each week
• validation by a certified nutritionist
• meat origin labeling (all meats are French origin except lamb)
• clearly listed allergens
• icons showing whether dishes are homemade, organic, local, or vegetarian

A Real Week of French School Lunches (2025)

For a breakdown of the nutrition requirements, see → Nutritional Guidelines for French School Lunches.

Note: There is no school on Wednesdays in this district (common in France), so lunches are served Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.

If you’d like to see what the French Christmas school lunch looks like → French School Lunch Christmas Menu.

Monday Menu (translation)

First course: Grated carrot salad (homemade)

Main course: Toulouse sausage

Vegetable: Polenta

Dairy: Fromage blanc (organic)

Dessert: Red fruit coulis

Tuesday Menu (translation)

Tuesday’s menu is showcased in the main photo.

First course: Potato salad (homemade)

Main course: Butter-parsley baked sea bream (homemade)

Vegetable: Broccoli, peas, and butternut squash

Dairy: Saint-Nectaire cheese (traditional production)

Dessert: Applesauce

Thursday Menu (translation)

This is the vegetarian meal of the week.

First course: Mixed diced vegetables

Main course: Italian-style vegetarian meatballs with Bolognese sauce (organic)

Dairy: Tomme noire cheese

Dessert: Oranges (organic)

Friday Menu (translation)

First course: Celery salad

Main course: Pork roast with mushrooms (homemade and local products)

Vegetable course: Mashed peas with bacon (homemade)

Dessert: Clementines (organic)

If you would like to read more about why French kids eat everything → How Toddlers Learn To Eat Everything at Daycare.

More From France

If you’re curious about how France nurtures healthier habits — from school lunches to everyday food, movement, and wellbeing — I share practical tips and stories each month. Sign up for the free newsletter below and receive my guide, The French Guide to Everyday Wellbeing, straight to your inbox. Merci!