
In China, school lunches are usually provided by catering companies, with students and teachers paying between 3-8 RMB per meal. However, there are concerns about the quality of food, with some parents skeptical about the use of cheap ingredients. In rural China, a Free Lunch for Children charity program has been successful in providing meals to thousands of poor children, many of whom suffer from malnutrition. Breakfast is typically served from 6 to 9 am in school canteens, with options like steamed buns, porridge, pancakes, and boiled eggs. This introduction sets the context for discussing the availability and quality of breakfast in Chinese schools, exploring both government initiatives and personal accounts.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Do schools in China provide breakfast? | Yes, schools in China do provide breakfast. |
| Time | Breakfast is usually served from 6 to 9 am. |
| Food items | Steamed buns, porridge, pancakes, fried bread sticks, and boiled eggs are the most common food items for breakfast. |
| Cost | Students and teachers have to pay between 3-8 RMB per meal. |
| Payment | The state may subsidize meals, especially in rural areas. |
| Quality | The quality of food may vary and is often influenced by profit margins. |
| Alternatives | Some students go home for lunch or bring their own food. |
| Nutritional Support | The Chinese government has implemented programs to provide nutritional support for vulnerable children. |
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What You'll Learn
- Breakfast is served from 6 to 9 am in Chinese school canteens
- Typical breakfast foods include steamed buns, porridge, pancakes, and boiled eggs
- Students and teachers pay for meals, with prices increasing over time
- Some students go home for lunch, while others have meals provided by schools
- Grassroots programs provide free lunches to thousands of rural children

Breakfast is served from 6 to 9 am in Chinese school canteens
In China, breakfast is served from 6 to 9 am in school canteens. While there is no culture of bringing homemade lunches to school, students usually either eat at school or go home for lunch.
Breakfast is provided by a catering company, with students and teachers paying between 3 and 8 RMB per meal. The principal chooses the catering company, and competition for school contracts is fierce, with companies wining and dining school principals to secure deals.
Breakfast options include steamed buns, porridge, pancakes, fried breadsticks, and boiled eggs. However, the quality of food in Chinese school canteens can vary. While some foreign teachers enjoy the canteen food, others do not. The food is generally oilier than Western dishes.
In rural China, a lack of access to nutritious food has been a concern, with many children suffering from malnutrition. To address this issue, a journalist from Phoenix Weekly news magazine, Deng Fei, initiated a program called "Free Lunch for Children." The program aimed to provide free lunches for thousands of rural children, and it received support from journalists, media organizations, and local authorities.
In conclusion, while breakfast is available in Chinese school canteens from 6 to 9 am, the quality and variety of food can vary, and there have been efforts to improve access to nutritious meals for students in rural areas.
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Typical breakfast foods include steamed buns, porridge, pancakes, and boiled eggs
In China, canteens in universities and public schools typically serve breakfast from 6 to 9 am. Steamed buns, porridge, pancakes, and boiled eggs are common breakfast foods. However, some students prefer to go home during the two-hour lunch break to eat with their families, especially if they live nearby.
Some schools in China have implemented programs to provide free lunches for students from low-income families, with support from the government and journalists. These programs aim to improve the health and nutrition of students, particularly in rural areas. However, there have been concerns about the quality of food in Chinese school cafeterias, with reports of businessmen compromising food quality to increase profits.
Students and teachers typically pay between 3 and 8 RMB per meal, and prices tend to increase over time. Competition among catering companies to secure school contracts is fierce, and principals play a significant role in selecting the catering company.
While there is a focus on providing hot meals in Chinese schools, with students rarely bringing homemade lunches, there are exceptions. In Taiwan, for example, students bring lunch in metal boxes that are steamed before being consumed.
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Students and teachers pay for meals, with prices increasing over time
In China, school lunches are generally provided by catering companies. Students and teachers have to pay for their meals, with prices ranging from 3 to 8 RMB per meal, depending on the company. These prices tend to increase over time, with a slight increase occurring every year or two.
The quality of school meals in China is a common concern for parents. School lunches are often prepared by catering companies that win contracts with schools, and the selection of these companies is influenced by competition and personal relationships with school principals and officials. This competitive environment can result in cost-cutting measures that impact food quality.
In some cases, students from nearby homes may return home for lunch, while those living on campus or in apartments near the school may have their meals provided by the school. There are also instances where grandparents bring lunches to their grandchildren at school.
To address concerns about malnutrition and poverty among rural children, China has implemented various initiatives. One notable example is the "Free Lunch for Children" charity program, founded by journalist Deng Fei, which provides free lunches to thousands of poverty-stricken rural students. This program has received support from journalists, media organizations, and local authorities, contributing to its success in improving children's health.
Additionally, the Chinese government has also taken steps to address this issue by providing nutritional support for millions of the country's poorest children every day. These efforts are making a significant difference in the lives of China's left-behind" children.
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Some students go home for lunch, while others have meals provided by schools
In China, students either go home for lunch or eat at school. Some schools have canteens, while others do not. In some cases, students and teachers have to pay for their meals, which are provided by catering companies chosen by the principal. In other cases, students' lunches are brought to them by their grandparents.
In rural China, schools may not have canteens, and students may not have access to food at all. In these cases, grassroots programs have been set up to provide free lunches for thousands of children. For example, Deng Fei, a journalist from Phoenix Weekly News Magazine, started a campaign to raise money online to pay for lunches for poverty-stricken rural children. This program has been remarkably successful, with high-profile support from journalists and their media organizations.
In some schools, the state subsidizes lunches, with students paying ¥2 and the state paying ¥5. However, the quality of food in school cafeterias can vary, as businessmen often decrease the quality of food to increase their profits.
At universities and public schools, breakfast is usually served from 6 to 9 am, with options such as steamed buns, porridge, pancakes, fried bread sticks, and boiled eggs. Lunch typically starts at 11:30 am, with a variety of meat and vegetable dishes to choose from.
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Grassroots programs provide free lunches to thousands of rural children
In China, students typically either eat at school or go home for lunch. School lunches are usually provided by catering companies, with students and teachers paying between 3-8 RMB per meal. However, this is not always affordable for low-income families.
To address this issue, grassroots programs have emerged to provide free lunches to thousands of rural children in China. One notable example is the "Free Lunch for Children" charity program, founded by journalist Deng Fei. During a reporting trip to Guizhou province, Deng discovered that schools lacked canteens, prompting him to take initiative. He utilized his online platform to raise funds for providing free lunches to poverty-stricken rural students. The program has received support from journalists and media organizations, successfully raising $4 million and helping 162 schools give free lunches to 25,000 children.
The success of grassroots initiatives has also influenced the government to increase its efforts in supporting school feeding programs. The government announced plans to provide nutritional support for 26 million of China's poorest children daily. This includes cases like the Hujiaying school, where the local government contributed funds to build a school canteen.
These grassroots programs have played a crucial role in ensuring that children from underprivileged backgrounds receive at least one nutritious meal a day. By alleviating hunger, these initiatives contribute to the overall well-being and educational opportunities of rural children in China.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, schools in China do provide breakfast. Breakfast is usually served from 6 to 9 am and can include steamed buns, porridge, pancakes, fried bread sticks, and boiled eggs.
It depends. Students at some schools in China have to pay for their meals, with prices ranging from ¥2-¥8 per meal. However, there are also free lunch programs supported by the government and charities for students from low-income families.
School lunches in China typically include a variety of meat and vegetable dishes. Meat options usually include pork, chicken, and fish. The availability of certain vegetables depends on the season.
Yes, students in China can bring their own lunch to school. However, it is more common for students to buy lunch at school or go home during the lunch break to eat with their families.



































