Serious Eats - seriouseats.com

We had a lot of really gross hot lunches, but there were many things that I loved and still think about today -- a processed chicken patty with american cheese on a plain white bun, rectangular cheese pizza, mashed potatoes wtih gravy...They also introduced some really tasty (probably canned) soup towards the end of high school that you could get instead of the normal canned vegetable option. And we too had those delicious, fresh baked chocolate chip cookies in the wax paper bags. If you got to school early enough, you could have them hot right out of the oven for breakfast. Oh! And french fries with ranch dressing -- also very tasty. OK, I must stop now, I am pregnant and beginning to crave all sorts of disgusting food from my youth.

Spicy bean dip, chips and fresh salsa.

When my first child was born, many friends brought food for my freezer. My favorite was individually wrapped bean burritos. They had black & refried beans, salsa, cheese, avocado, etc. They were delicious when reheated in the oven (or toaster oven). I also really appreciated any kind of soup. I never felt like taking the time to chop veggies for a salad and was happy to have homemade soups filled with healthy veggies as an alternative. (Especially after eating lots of frozen pasta and take-out dinners.) Now that I am expecting my second child, I am eagerly reading all of the great ideas posted here and taking notes for things I can make and freeze ahead of time. Yum.

grilled asparagus

NY strip

My high school's food was unfathomably bad--rubbery chicken nuggets and pizza soaked in grease. College food, on the other hand, while tiresome, is much better. We have salmon, flank steak, ribs--all good stuff. :)

I ate hot lunches in grade school and thought they were exotic, since it was stuff I never got at home. Looking back, I can recall canned Chef Boyardee ravioli as the amazing highlight of the lunch menu. In high school, there was a hot lunch, but after eating what they referred to as a hamburger, I gave that up in favor of the "cold lunch" line which offered such delectables as the ubiquitous bologna sandwich with butter globs, and on a good day, Twinkies and Hostess apple pies.

Bisbee, I'm glad you posted this!!! As I read through the lunchbox thread (and having NO idea that it would evoke such memories) I thought about Wednesdays, the day that my 'lunchbox' Mom would let me buy lunch. Wednesday was pizza day. The dedicated lunch ladies in my school district made everything from scratch, including the incredible pizza. They served it with spinach, to make sure the dietary rules were adhered to. Anyway, the pizza was FABULOUS and I can still recall with anticipation, the deep-dish, homemade slices that were to come. The lunch ladies also made the best oatmeal/peanutbutter cookies. The cookies were so popular, people in the community would place orders for them on the day they were made! Imagine my surprise when I tasted the dorm food my first year at college, I expected it to be like the Lunch Ladies, NOT!! By the way, the Lunch Ladies made a killer salibury steak and mashed potatoes.

My high school did hot breakfast in the morning (neon egg sandwiches) followed by hot lunch. Wednesday was always nacho day: ground beef with minimal seasoning on toastios with melted slices of kraft and jarred salsa. yum.

@bonnie: my best friend's favorite late night raid the kitchen snack at sleepovers growing up was toasted bread with margarine and cool ranch doritos. She was from the originally from the south.

When I was in elementary/middle-school, I really liked the veggie soup and the tomato soup and grilled cheese days. That is pretty much all I can remember liking. I'd bring lunches most days; my mom would make up on the weekends a large number of roast beef and cheese on hamburger buns and wrap in foil and then heat them then freeze them. That was one of the best lunches. In high school there was a potato bar, but we were too cheap and would just take the crackers, bacon bits and chesse and make little crackers sandwiches. There were tasty.