Elementary School Lunch (Kyuushoku) in February

I can't believe my contract with Interac is almost up! It's flown by (though sometimes, it's felt like it's dragged on forever...) and I can't believe the school year is almost over. Here's February's menu, as if I need a reminder that I won't have many school lunches left...

When you come to Japan (or even before), one of the first things you hear about school lunches is that you have to eat everything that's served to you, regardless of whether or not you like it. And while this is mostly true, it is much more important if you eat with your students. If you don't, then you don't really need to. I don't drink milk, so I don't take it at all. Some of the teachers are "dieting" and will only eat half the bread given to them and throw it away. A benefit of being self-serve is you can somewhat control what you're going to eat, and adjust accordingly.

Bread, quiche, apple jam, and cabbage soup

Radish soup, rice, and beef cubes

Coleslaw salad, apple yogurt, boiled potatoes, and meat sauce spaghetti

Cream of mushroom soup, bread, and pickled vegetables

Daigaku imo ("college potato"), twist bread, and vegetable soup 

Fried fish, rice, boiled cabbage, vegetable soup, and joa (drinkable yogurt)

Chinese noodles, bread, and spicy daikon

Chicken karaage (fried chicken), curried rice, and cabbage with sesame dressing (My favorite lunch!)

Sekihan (red bean rice) with salted sesame seeds, fried fish, and salad

Mapo tofu, rice, and pork and vegetable salad

Go-moku yakisoba and fruits in yogurt

Vegetable soup, fried fish, and rice

Vegetable soup, "German potatoes", white bread, and strawberry jam