A few years ago, I found myself deep inside the world of French school cafeterias—real kitchens, fresh ingredients, and children who casually choose beets and lentils. It completely reshaped how I thought about kids and food. But the question I hear most often is: “What about where I live? What can I do here? How can I improve school lunches where I live?”
The good news is that you don’t need a French kitchen team or local farms in every direction to make meaningful changes. Small ideas—often simple, low-cost, and community-driven—can transform the way children eat and how they feel about food. Here are eight practical, creative ideas that any school community can adapt.
For a complete overview of the French school lunch system, see → French School Lunches: How They Work Today.
1. Create a Model Tray
A simple “model tray” displayed near the serving line shows kids what a balanced meal actually looks like. Fill it with colorful vegetables, familiar proteins, and fruit so they have a visual template.
2. Try a Poster Contest
Invite students to create posters celebrating delicious, healthy lunches. Hang them in the cafeteria and hallways to build pride and awareness.
3. Run Week-Long Challenges
Short, fun challenges—like which class can eat the most fruit—can shift habits quickly. Keep it playful, visible, and school-wide.
4. Offer Bite-Size Samples
Hungry kids waiting in line are surprisingly open to trying new foods. Parent volunteers or older students can offer tiny samples of fruits and veggies.
5. Introduce a Monthly Sample Day
Choose one day a month when volunteers walk around with tastes of healthy dishes. Familiarity often leads to curiosity—then to actual choices.
6. Make Vegetables the Default Side
Small nudges matter. By making vegetables the default side dish, most children will simply go along with it. Fries or less-healthy options can still be available on request.
7. Rethink “Checkout” Displays
Instead of candy at the register, offer fruit, nuts, or other wholesome snacks. A tiny shift in placement can change what kids reach for.
8. Get Creative With Menus
Post photos of upcoming meals, involve students in a “design your own healthy menu” contest, and serve the winning meal to the whole school. Engagement creates ownership.
For a menu idea, have a look here → French School Lunch Menu.
A Reflection: Why It Matters To Improve School Lunches
Wherever we live, feeding children well is one of the greatest gifts we can offer. It shapes their habits, their confidence, and their lifelong relationship with food. Even the smallest improvements—one sample day, one creative menu, one colorful poster—can help children discover foods they didn’t even know they liked.
And when kids begin choosing healthy foods on their own, that’s when the real change happens.
In France, it’s not only the food that counts, read here → 5 Reasons French School Lunches Are Important (It’s Not The Food).
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!
