#Schoollunch

A new wave of healthy cold lunch recipes is gaining attention among parents and nutrition experts worldwide, offering fresh, creative, and nutrient-packed options that are easy for children to take to school or camp—including in Thailand, where health-conscious families are seeking alternatives to traditional hot meals in the lunchbox. The latest feature on this trend, titled “15 Cold Lunch Ideas for Kids They’ll Want to Eat Forever,” showcases an inventive array of wraps, salads, and sandwiches designed to deliver a balanced intake of vegetables, fruits, lean proteins, and healthy fats—all without the need for reheating.

France’s top food safety agency, ANSES (Agence nationale de sécurité sanitaire de l’alimentation, de l’environnement et du travail), has sent shockwaves through the international nutrition community with its latest recommendation: soy-based foods should be banned from all public mass catering, including schools, hospitals, and care homes. This call, issued in March 2025, has ignited global debate over the safety of soy products—a topic relevant to Thailand as plant-based menus become increasingly popular in schools and health-conscious households.

A French health agency has sparked a global conversation about soy in public catering, including schools, hospitals, and care homes. In March 2025, ANSES emphasized caution around high-intensity soy consumption, focusing on isoflavones, the plant compounds that can act like estrogen in the body. The agency warned that excessive intake could influence hormone balance and potentially affect children’s development if exposure is prolonged. Thai readers should note the emphasis on balanced nutrition and moderation as schools increasingly explore plant-based proteins.

A renewed debate over dairy fat in school meals is unfolding in the United States, as Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. promotes reintroducing whole milk into school lunch programs. The move challenges decades of policy favoring skim or low-fat milk and echoes a broader discussion about child nutrition that has persisted since the Obama-era standards.

Senator John Fetterman has joined the effort, arguing that children need wholesome, nourishing food to perform well in class and activities. Kennedy has called current federal guidelines for low-fat milk “antiquated,” urging policymakers to consider full-fat options, particularly for younger children enrolled in Head Start and similar programs.