American mom in Italy is stunned by her kids’ school lunch menu — locals’ ‘high standards’ leave her in disbelief
An American mother living in Italy has drawn wide attention after sharing her thoughts on her children’s school life abroad, especially their school menu. Clara Hogan, known on TikTok as @clarahogan, moved to Bologna with her husband and their two young children in 2024. As per Newsweek, on February 20, 2026, she shared a video describing how she was genuinely surprised by her kids’ school lunch menu and the notably high expectations local parents seem to have around food. While adjusting to a new language and culture, Hogan began noticing everyday differences that kept amusing her.
@clarahogan Italian public school lunch vs American public school lunch 🇮🇹🇺🇸 Here’s what my kids are eating in Italian public school this week. Thought it would be interesting to share the full menu with those who would be interested. No surprise there’s lots of pasta, but also some amazing meat dishes, vegetable dishes, and delicious snacks. My daughters eat very well every day and for that I am grateful. Also, kids here get a full hour to eat every day and multiple courses. Lunch is seen as a moment to take a pause, relax and enjoy your food rather than something to rush through. ##schoollunch##parenting##feedingkids##lifeinitaly##nutritiontok ♬ original sound - clarainitaly🇮🇹
In the viral clip, the mom of two revealed the week's menu. She described one example of the school meals. “On Tuesday, for the first course, they are having a celentani pasta with broccoli sauce,” she said. “For the second course, they are having a chicken and turkey sausage patty.” The children were also served borlotti beans with tomato purée and Bolognese brine, kiwi for fruit, and an orange with a homemade cocoa biscuit for a snack.
She explained that the difference in the lunch menu was something she noticed “immediately.” “First of all, these kids get a full hour every day to enjoy their lunch,” she noted. She then compared it to the typical 20-minute lunch breaks in the United States and said the extra time made a real difference for young children. She later commented on how some Italian parents were still not satisfied with the lunch menu, stating, "They have high standards here."
Looking back at her own childhood, she told the outlet, “Growing up, I remember school lunch in the U.S. as very functional and fast. I think most millennials remember the strange square pizza with the waxy cheese—I’m still not convinced that it counted as real food.” The move to Italy had originally been meant as a temporary plan. Hogan explained that she and her husband had been “working hard in the Bay Area” and felt “caught in a constant rush and under a lot of financial pressure.”
With two young children in preschool, they began to rethink their lifestyle and wanted “a slower pace of life” along with a chance for their kids to experience another culture. They decided to relocate so her husband could complete an MBA at the University of Bologna, expecting to stay only one year before returning to the United States. However, life unfolded differently. “Moving abroad with two little kids was not easy for many reasons—new language to learn, new cultural customs to understand, and new systems to navigate,” Hogan said.
Over time, though, the family adjusted. They gave up their cars and chose to walk through the city, becoming more connected to their surroundings. “But now in our second year here, we are starting to feel more settled into our community and routines,” she shared. She added that access to “fresh and amazing food” was another unexpected benefit, reinforcing her belief that “It’s not just about healthy meals, it’s about learning a healthy, positive relationship with food, and having the time and space to slow down and enjoy it.”
For more videos, you can follow @clarahogan on TikTok.