Me, too. We couldn't afford expensive school lunches. I never got to have pizza on Friday like the other kids. I'm happy with how it worked out though. I'm a thin, healthy American adult now, and I thoroughly enjoyed ruining people's stereotypical impressions of us while living in Japan.

Immediate edit: I ate lunch with some elementary school kids a few times while covering for a colleague. They get rice and some curry or fish or other traditional Japanese food, or a piece of bread with spaghetti or other western-ish food that kids like.

The kids are made to eat everything, even if they don't like it. Being a picky eater isn't tolerated, and adults are supposed to set a good example. I did my best, except on shrimp day. I had to just say I was allergic because I figured it was either that, or puke in front of the kids...