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Is there a law that forces a school to serve meat to every student? That would be a weird law.
Schools should cater for dietary requirements, regardless of whether those requirements are for medical or moral reasons.
Vegans aren't difficult or expensive to cater for either, rice and beans are cheap.
Yes there is. The law states that schools have to serve meat at least 3 times a week.
Why not mandate that 3 meals a week have at least X g of protein and Y g of fiber?
That'd be a better way to ensure healthy meals with proteins without requiring meat.
Why not mandate that 3 meals a week have at least X g of protein and Y g of fiber?
This seems like the most sensible option. I'm sure the guidelines seemed reasonable when they were first drawn up, presumably to stop cults and shysters feeding the kids inappropriate food but if turkey twizzlers met the meat requirement then the guidelines weren't really doing their job.
So they need guidelines on the amounts of protein, fibre, and calcium, as well as a restriction on UPFs.
Ofsted inspections now check what food is being offered, so it would be easy enough to ensure children are getting a healthy, balanced diet without being so proscriptive as to the sources of the nutrition.
They have to serve it, not force it down student's throats though right? Is there anything restricting them from also serving something plant based at the same time?
The children might not be able to digest meat well if they don't eat it in schools
You don’t need meat in order to get your protein.
you most certainly don't! but you do need meat if you want to maintain your ability to digest meat
I've heard of this, but I'm not sure it's true, after searching I can't find a source that says it is either, are you aware of any studies that suggest this is true?
I'm not advocating removing meat from school meals either, just that everyone is catered for.
In general people can switch between meat and nonmeat diets -but the relevant gut microbiota are different and I don't know if children would know enough to ease into meat-eating again as needed, or to realize that that's what's going on when their tummy hurts
Says party donor who happens to own vegan catering business that supplies schools.
The whole foods plant-based diet lowers the risk from chronic disease such as heart disease, breast cancer, colon cancer, diabetes, obesity.
why is your "update" over a decade old? how often are they released?
Who did the meat industry have to pay to get a law passed saying that their product MUST be served at schools?
I'm not sure it's a law per se but more guidance that schools should endeavour to serve children a balanced diet which will include portions of meat/fish/poultry/dairy.
Nah you can have healthier options for a balanced diet without raising your risk for chronic disease such as legumes, whole grains, whole grain bread , nuts and seeds, soy products, vegetables, plant-based protein powders and meat substitutes.
Rice and beans is life
That's my fuel source!
Just cos you like animals doesn't mean you're not a capitalist.
Go into the comments section if you want to see a mass meltdown of anti-vegan insanity.
Shouldn't it be up to the schools what they serve, rather than mandating meat MUST be served by law?
I read that as "doner" - they should definitely serve that.
Based as hell.
The green entrepreneur, who has donated more than £5m to Labour, says vegan meals are healthier and better for the environment.
He is campaigning for an end to all farming of animals, which he says is now the biggest driver of the climate crisis.
He told a fringe meeting at Labour's conference that his company, Devil's Kitchen, already supplies vegan food to "one in four" primary schools.
He denied he was against farmers, insisting that he did not want to kill the industry but allow it to be "reborn".
"[Farmers] have to be part of the move to net zero, they have to move away from animal agriculture, we know that the science tells us that - and they already grow grass to feed to animals."
One regrettable side effect of the fact that children cannot vote is stuff like this.
Imagine how British adults would react if someone proposed a law banning their meat consumption.
But kids can't do anything about it -- other people choose what food is available to them in cafeterias, so...
EDIT: Maybe the real answer is to convert school cafeterias into food courts and have different caterers compete for lunch tickets or something, so that kids have a say.
The only kind of remote analog I can think of that adults tolerate is during wartime, when soldiers are drafted, so that their presence at an institution is required and someone else determines what food they will have available at that institution, if they're deployed and being issued rations.
It's great to see entrepreneurs advocating for healthier and more environmentally friendly meal options. The benefits of plant-based diets for both health and the environment are well-documented in scientific literature. Schools often play a pivotal role in shaping dietary habits, and integrating vegan meals can teach children about nutrition and sustainability from a young age.
As for children not having a say in their school meals, it's important to recognize that educational institutions have a responsibility to offer nutritious options that adhere to dietary guidelines. Just as schools prioritize educational curricula to foster academic growth, the provision of healthy food options is geared toward physical well-being.
Here are some children who asked for plant-based options in schools.