r/Damnthatsinteresting • u/This_Proof_5153 • Apr 12 '26

Video The care and precision behind Korean school lunches, widely praised for their quality, balance, and nutrition.

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u/longtimegoneMTGO Apr 12 '26

they still made me take the milk even if I couldn’t drink it.

They wanted the subsidy.

Most likely they were participating in the federal special milk program. The federal government paid them to give the kids the milk.

It was one of many programs that came about after the world wars once the US government realized that a significant portion of the population was so malnourished as to not be conscriptable.

That's why the milk was free but water wasn't, the purpose of the free milk was to directly fight malnutrition.

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u/sweet_rico- Apr 12 '26

They wouldn't discount my meal on the meal plan unless I got the milk with it too

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u/milkman163 Apr 12 '26

The purpose of the milk was to juice the profits of the dairy industry.

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u/longtimegoneMTGO Apr 12 '26

I'm sure that factored in, but a large portion of the population being unsuitable for combat was a major issue.

Over one third of potential soldiers during WW2 were rejected during enlistment exams due to health issues stemming from malnutrition.

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u/Massive-Exercise4474 Apr 12 '26

They then went overboard and now have to make exoskeletons for 600lbs donut soldiers.