For perspective: I come from a country where “cafeteria” food at school is good and affordable (most is less than the equivalent of 5-10 USD max and it’s not slop, it’s actual food), but it’s not an obligation for everyone since it’s up to the student if they want to buy something or bring their own lunch.
The “cafeteria” in my school isn’t a typical American one, rather it’s closer to a canteen where they sell food you can purchase from cup noodles, fried stuff, sandwiches, baked goods, etc. also appliances like a kettle or microwave are available in the dining hall for students to heat up left overs if they wanted.
The thing I tend to notice from American schools (according to US movies, there’s bias whether it’s true or false) is that they tend to depict kids always heading for the cafeteria for recess or lunch picking up whats available instead of bringing their own food from home (left overs from dinner), why is that the case?
A lot of kids eat school lunch because it’s subsidized, and cheaper than food from home would be.
Or because both parents work and don’t have time to pack lunches, and the kids won’t do it themselves.
Or because no one in the household knows how to cook (no, really).
Or because it helps them “fit in”.
I always packed my own lunch, from middle school onward. Now I send my kids with lunches I pack; if I don’t they just won’t eat.
Kids are weird.