In the child's lunchbox there was also a small container which 99% of the time held plain milk.
These lunchboxes, made of metal and separating into two halves, often had pictured of TV or movie characters on the outside (STAR WARS for ex:) Later, the lunchbox was made of a tough plastic, but in the same style.
These were the kind of lunches kids brought from home, but many other students ate the hot lunch provided by the school every day.
For a fairy small cost, the student could join the other kids in the school cafeteria (not in the classroom, as in Japan) and eat whatever hot lunch was offered that day.
There was a different lunch provided each day, and typical lunches at that time might be "Italian spaghetti", meat loaf (like a hamburg steak), macaroni cheese or fried chicken.
The side dish might be mashed potatoes or french fries, and dessert was a small piece of cake or fruit jelly.
In later years, students had better choices including Mexican Tacos, lasage, pizza, and so on.
In fact, some schools had a small McDonald's kiosk right in the cafeteria ! Not healthy, maybe, but popular with kids... (G.K)
separate into two halves 半分に分かれている
for a fairly small cost かなり安い値段で
not in the classroom, as in Japan 日本のように教室の中ではなく
whatever hot lunch was offered that day その日出された温かい昼食
McDonald's kiosk マクドナルドの売店