I've done a Texas HS cafeteria, a French public HS , and a French private HS The private HS had the best food, but the meal was about $8 a day, and I lived clo

I've done a Texas HS cafeteria, a French public HS , and a French private HS The private HS had the best food, but the meal was about $8 a day, and I lived close by, so I would often eat at home. I could make comparably healthy foods at home for $4 or so I think The french public highschool was about $4.50. People complained about the food , but I had a little appetizer, main plate, and dessert. And it was usually all "real food". The kind you could eat forever and be fine. Main plate was usually some meat/fish + a little veggies. In Texas I had a lot of mashed potatoes and chicken nuggets. I have no clue how my body didn't completely fall apart . but hey, it was $2. BTW French Uni also had a cafeteria . for about $5 I could have a lunch similar to HS (if a bit more on the greasy side). A lifesaver for a college student too lazy to buy proper food. There are important details (hard to get a lot of good fresh fish in the middle of Nevada), but the school meal thing really is another example of how the US really isn't as rich as it likes to portray itself.