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I think most problems such as this are complex.  It's facile to focus blame on ONE cause, usually, when the causes are likely multifaceted, and not simple, else they would have been fixed. 

This is the most adorable thing I've read in a long time.

The "good chains" have a System that works and that they enforce religiously with inspections.  They have economies of scale on advertising.  You also usually know what you can expect at a "Crackerbarrel", whereas you don't at "Joe's Diner".  Chains also do surveys on locations where their chain is likely to succeed, and they have Deep Pockets and so can usually survive a Black Swan event.  The private place may have closed up eliminating one competitive option from the area.

My step son in law worked for one of the main Italian chains when he got out of CIA and he recounted the "System" for fixing everything, and how it was quite efficient and competent.  They have test kitchens to keep the menu freshened up also.  The corporate "system" simply can outpace "Joe" diner across the board, which is why we have so many chains now.

I personally avoid them.

This.
It's why McDonalds is a thing. 
Consistency. 
Not high-quality consistency, simply consistency.  People value it, perhaps subconsciously, but they value it.
Local joints may have consistent ownership, but their servers have turnover, their chef leaves, etc......bye-bye consistency. 
Plus something I don't think most consider:  your first visit isn't necessarily their average.  You may love it your first visit, but they were at a 9 instead of their usual 5.  So most subsequent visits will be especially disappointing.

If McDonalds is always a 3.5, you get an accurate portrayal your first visit, it meets your visit on subsequent visits, and you can come to rely on it.  No, it's not a 7, but it's consistent.  

I think it, like with many things, is a case of a lack of options.  A one-company monopoly is sort of an invention - even if 3 companies dominate an industry, they act the same as a monopoly.


Part of the issue on the government's end is a failure to plan for the imagination of the food producers and school districts.  
Gov't:  your main entree must have X-calories, including y% carbs and z% of protein, but must not exceed 2y% fat (thinking they'll serve students traditional main course options)
.
Food producing corporation (and here's why I place the blame here, amongst a multi-problem issue):  choose one of these:
a - bagged pair of cheeseburger sliders (including garbage meat 51% actual meat) (legal, as per the gov't requirements)
b - bagged pretzel w/ cheese dip (legal, as per the gov't requirements)
c - (which I doubt is even a thing, because of $$$) a lovely, freshly-made enchilada 
.
School district:  uhhhh, well, we can only afford a or b........we ordered a last year and many students didn't eat it, so let's go with b.  

The school system had tons of money - but the "piles of money" are all segmented.  I think a differentiation of money for the actual food separated from the food service costs/salaries, etc. would be a good idea.  

Here is the middle school menu from the school dist I live in

https://www.cfisd.net/download_file/34090/1537

Yeah, it's the frozen food section of your grocery store. 

Roasted corn
Fresh Apple Slices
Fruit Cobbler
Garden Salad
BBQ Baked Beans
Spaghetti and Meatballs

more then the frozen food section

The fix to better school lunches is the same answer to any problem where the big, rich entity gets richer as the poorest with no voice suffer.  It'd be one helluva thing for me to come up with.  I'm not there yet.  How's that?

I told you how to do it.

Let them make their own - part of home economics - with quality ingredients sourced from grocery stores who want to make a donation to kids in need.

Home economics would also include sewing, basic household repairs, managing a checkbook/finances, etc.

If Michelle couldn't get it done, what hope do the rest of us have?

Bring private industry into the solution, and make it local. That's how shit gets done. F the government. They don't know Jack from Jill.