What’s on the Tray? A Look at Michigan School Lunches

Michigan school lunches have changed since I was a kid. Now, schools offer much healthier options. Let’s take a look at what’s on the tray.

Michigan School Lunch

I grew up going to school in Michigan. When I was in kindergarten through elementary school, my mom packed a lunch in my lunchbox (my favorite was the Kiss lunchbox). I began buying lunch when I started junior high school. I remember the square pizza that was like chewing cardboard, but I loved it. One of my favorites was hamburger gravy poured over mashed potatoes. Other favorites were goulash, Salisberry steak, and spaghetti.

Michigan school lunches have many more healthy options than when I was a kid. Fruits, vegetables, and more balanced meals help kids during their growing years and also improve their ability to focus and succeed.

Read More: Must-Eat Foods That Define Michigan Flavor

It probably doesn't taste as good as the hamburger gravy over mashed potatoes, but lunches nowadays give kids smarter choices, hence smarter kids.

A Look At A Typical Michigan Public School Lunch

The Michigan Department of Education (MDOE) recently posted a photo on their Facebook page of a lunch tray from Madison High School in Madison Heights and praised them for the wonderful lunch they served. The MDOE praised the pizza that was made from scratch using whole-grain dough. The apple is from the elite Orchard in Sparta. They congratulated Madison High School on the fresh vegetables, seasoned potatoes, and low-fat, unflavored milk, and the overall balanced meal they provide.

Several followers of the Michigan Department of Education's Facebook page have made comments, some of which I’ve shared below.

I do remember the rectangular pizza my school used to serve me when I went to school.

Kids today have it made; they're getting pizza from scratch at school lunch! Plus, fruit and vegetables.

That apple came from Sparta, Michigan, so you know it's good.

It's not just kids who would love that meal, but I'm old now, so I just ate some blueberries for lunch instead.

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Most of the parents on the Facebook thread applauded the Michigan school lunch, but there were a few "Karens" putting in their two cents.

👇BELOW: 5 School Lunch menu items from the 70s and 80s we wish we could find as adults👇