For perspective: I come from a country where “cafeteria” food at school is good and affordable (most is less than the equivalent of 5-10 USD max and it’s not slop, it’s actual food), but it’s not an obligation for everyone since it’s up to the student if they want to buy something or bring their own lunch.

The “cafeteria” in my school isn’t a typical American one, rather it’s closer to a canteen where they sell food you can purchase from cup noodles, fried stuff, sandwiches, baked goods, etc. also appliances like a kettle or microwave are available in the dining hall for students to heat up left overs if they wanted.

The thing I tend to notice from American schools (according to US movies, there’s bias whether it’s true or false) is that they tend to depict kids always heading for the cafeteria for recess or lunch picking up whats available instead of bringing their own food from home (left overs from dinner), why is that the case?

  • SnoopSqueak@lemmy.today
    2·
    22 hours ago

    We had tables with benches iirc. I think whoever came out of the line first would go all the way to the front of the cafeteria and sit down on the side closest to the stage, closest to the door we came in through. Everyone else would fill the rest of that side, then the other side of the table, then the next table, etc. So if you counted it out correctly, you could still sit next to your friends. There were also teachers present to make sure we sat where we were supposed to. I think there was also a guard with a pistol. It was Texas.