What Do French Students Eat For Lunch?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Starting when children enter school at age three, school lunch consists of four courses: a vegetable starter (for example, grated carrot salad, or beet salad), a warm main course served with a side of grains or vegetables, cheese, and dessert.

Fresh baguette

, eaten plain, is also served.

What is a typical lunch in France?

A typical French lunch will consist of: a starter (une entrée), such as a

mixed salad, soup

, some terrine or paté. A main course, (le plat principal), typically a choice of meat or fish, with potatoes, rice, pasta and/or vegetables; a cheese course (often a selection of local cheeses) and/or a dessert.

What do French schools serve for lunch?

French lunches have multiple courses! They start with a vegetable, such as a

leafy lettuce salad

, a cucumber tomato salad or beets. Next up is a warm main dish, which almost always includes another veggie. Think sliced roast beef with baked potatoes, veal with mushrooms and broccoli or breaded fish with cauliflower.

Do French students eat lunch at home?

There are no vending machines in French schools (they are banned by law), and

children are strongly discouraged from bringing their own meals from home

(and most don’t). So the cantine is the place where the majority of French children eat lunch on school days.

How much time do French students have for lunch?

At school, the lunch break lasts

between 90 minutes and 2 hours

, during which a four-course meal is eaten while seated. French etiquette recommends that everyone starts eating at the same time and leaves the table only once everybody is finished.

What are French snacks?

  • Snack. Panisses. Provence. France. …
  • Cookie. Canistrelli. Corsica. France. …
  • Cookie. Palets de dames. Nord. France. …
  • Sweet Pastry. Chaussons aux pommes. Saint-Calais. …
  • Savory Pie. Pissaladière. Nice. …
  • Savory Pastry. Gougère. Yonne. …
  • Snack. Vol-au-vent. Paris. …
  • Sweet Pastry. Pain aux raisins. France.

What do the French eat daily?

Foods that are a staple of the French diet include

full-fat cheese and yogurt

, butter, bread, fresh fruits and vegetables (often grilled or sautéed), small portions of meat (more often fish or chicken than red meat), wine, and dark chocolate.

What is the French favorite food?

A hearty range of popular main dishes in France include

meat, fish and poultry

in a lineup that includes boeuf Bourguignon, steak frites, blanquette de veau, duck confit, cassoulet, bouillabaisse and coq au vin.

How do the French eat lunch at home?

It is not unusual to go for a four course lunch, but other times –

bread, spreads, cheeses, cold soup, salad and a plate of charcuterie

are enjoyed with family or friends at home or on the go. Remember, the French do not like to eat alone, so every meal is almost always had with others.

What are the 10 most common foods consumed in France?

  • Bread. When you imagine French food, the many different types of bread may come to mind. …
  • Pastries. Pastries are a common thing to snack on here. …
  • Cheese. This is a product created religiously. …
  • Soup and Potage. …
  • Magret de Canard. …
  • Desserts. …
  • Salads. …
  • Seafood.

Do the French eat vegetables?

In general, the

French aren’t eating enough fibrous foods

, including vegetables, fruits and pulses, like beans and lentils.

What do the French eat for dinner?

A typical weeknight dinner in France may look like a small starter such as shredded carrots, radishes, charcuterie, or olive tapenade, a simple main dish (grilled chicken, steak or salmon, served with potatoes, pasta, or green beans), and a yogurt with a

piece of fruit

, and a cookie or piece of chocolate.

What do French babies eat for breakfast?

Most French kids eat

cereals or bread

. During school days, it’s unlikely there is going to be fresh baguette for breakfast at 7AM! Since the baguette doesn’t keep, if there is some left over from the previous day, then you may grill it and use it as a toast.

What time do people eat lunch in Paris?

What time do we eat? Lunch is usually

between midday and 2 pm

, when the kitchen will go off duty. Watch out, as during these times, service can be rather slow if you find yourself in a business area. Parisians don’t dine until at least 8.30 pm as prior to that, time is set aside for “l’apéritif”.

Which country has the longest school lunch break?

  • Spain – 3 hours. You probably know the famous Spanish siesta. …
  • Greece – 3 hours. Unlike the Spaniards who use the break time to rest, the Greeks use it for eating. …
  • China – 2 hours. …
  • France – 2 hours. …
  • Brazil – 2 hour lunch break.

What time is dinner in France?

The French typically eat dinner

between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.

, but later evening meals aren’t uncommon in major metropolitan areas like Paris. Thanks to its vibrant cafe culture, long lunch breaks are a popular concept in France, and the French tend to enjoy a substantial meal in the middle of the day.

Sophia Kim
Author
Sophia Kim
Sophia Kim is a food writer with a passion for cooking and entertaining. She has worked in various restaurants and catering companies, and has written for several food publications. Sophia's expertise in cooking and entertaining will help you create memorable meals and events.