School residential vegetarian/vegan only

And a lot of ND folks are accidentally veggie because they can’t take the texture of meat (this is how I was as a child). It’s a non-argument, really.

Just send them with a load of pepperami and biltong in their suitcase!

Crikey. It’s giving those mums who pushed McDonald’s through the school gates because of Jamie Oliver.

I think ND children & children with limited diets would in all likeliness struggle whatever’s on the menu if it’s not their usual.

I'm not vegan but about 80% of what I eat and cook is vegetarian or vegan without using "meat" substitutes.

I do wonder, do all the apparently compulsory carnivores never eat in Indian, Malaysian, Thai, Chinese or even Italian restaurants? The menus in all of them will be awash with vegetarian and vegan food which are just standard cooking.

And . . . even if they did get meat it might not be burgers?! Or it could be vegetable or mushroom burgers?! Must we now serve every food ever eaten lest we be accused of exclusion?!

I think going to this type of place IS part of hearing 'both sides'. If you feed your child meat at home how do they ever experience a meat-free lifestyle?

My only concern would be what the actual menu is because let's face it, there are vegan/vegetarian menus that just wouldn't also be child-friendly. There's a difference between a focus on sustainability and a meat-free menu, and running off so far in that direction that it becomes pointless.

as some neurodiverse children, children with allergies and other children with limited diets would be more likely to struggle when food options become more limited

But surely if your child already has a limited diet, you discuss this ahead of the trip, and see if there's a way of solving this? And I'm not sure why you think a vegetarian diet can't cater for allergies in the same way as a meat-eating diet can?

As a cub leader, we will always cater for children with allergies. We will also try to cater for neurodiverse children where possible, or if we can't, we allow them to bring their own food. We had a child who would only eat Smiley Faces, hula hoops, and bananas. So the child brought the smiley faces and hula hoops with him, and we provided plenty of bananas. As it happened, he ate far more than that when sitting with other children, although I appreciate this will not always happen. His mum was stunned.

What we don't really cater for is fussy eaters - although we will always offer a quick sandwich if the child is not eating much at all.

My point is, centres that offer residentials for children will be used to working round any issues with food. Including centres that offer only vegetarian food.

Yes, there's quite a lot of ignorance about nutrition on this thread.

Same. Very rare for me to eat a meat substitute.

As long as your child will eat what's on the menu there's no reason to be concerned. As a meat eater I wouldn't mind eating vegetarian and vegan foods for a few days as there are plenty of amazing dishes that are meat free.

There's no reason why a vegan diet should include UPF. I've been vegan for years and rarely touch it - we don't all live on meat substitutes!

Would you get a grip! Vegetarians can't eat meat for a few days.

Is there a sample menu op it will probably be things like pasta and tomato sauce, baked potatoes, pizza, bean chilli and rice all served separately so fussy ones can have plain pasta etc.
If centre used to kids groups they will know what works.
Last thing staff want is to be dealing with hungry moaning kids so will make food that suits.
They might use food grown at the project or get kids making own lunches all part of the experience.

It is very easy to eat a protein filled diet as a vegetarian.

To suddenly eat all vegetarian food for 5 days in a row may well upset tummies...standby for green apple quick step or the opposite. Oh and plenty of wind.

You're right that most of the almond and oat milks are full of additives - I like oat milk and only have Oatly now: it's only oats, water and salt ( grey packet). I get it delivered from Amazon because Sainsburys don't do it anymore and only do stuff with additives. It's cheaper from Amazon too.
Vegetarian cheese is mostly horrible. Get your DH to find ordinary cheeses that don't have rennet - lots don't now. I'm lactose intolerant but I'm OK with hard cheeses (they are low lactose, apparently).

The child can stay at home then. That is also a choice.

my god I wish I had as much free time and available headspace as you do! Pick your battles, you're being silly.

Send him with loads of meat based snacks in his luggage - jerky etc. I think it’s ridiculous to be honest. I can’t be arsed to check the guidance but I’m fairly certain the eat well plate (still used in most schools) contains protein as a major food group. I would be asking how they intend to ensure the children have a balanced diet. There’s more to being vegetarian than just omitting meat. It has to be replaced with enough protein (I’m not arguing that this ain’t possible as obviously it is) but I would be concerned that it wasn’t being done effectively.

I’ve nothing against vegetarianism and I don’t eat much meat to be honest but I do know that proper nutrition is important especially on a very physically exerting few days for the children.

@InMyShowgirlEra
please stop feeding the goady troll! Just report and ignore.

Ablondiebutagoody · Today 10:35

I agree with you. Eating together is one of the highlights of this kind of trip but instead of that it will be 3 meals per day of joyless veggie slop.

That says so much about your lack of imagination, limited lifestyle choices and bad cooking.