Quorn every day on school lunch menu

[BlackInk]

AIBU to be annoyed that the vegetarian option at my DC's primary school is Quorn 4 days out of 5?

My DC are aged 6 and 9, and have been vegetarian since birth. They are having school lunches at the moment for the first time ever because we're having our kitchen replaced at home.

The reason I've never tried to persuade them to have school dinners before is that the veggie option has always been almost exclusively Quorn. I'm not keen on Quorn myself and we rarely eat it at home. DC have never really liked it. But regardless of that, would it really be healthy/balanced to eat the same highly processed meat substitute every day? Isn't it the same as only serving Bird's Eye Fish Fingers every day?

The veggie options are always an exact replica of the meat offering - so Quorn hotpot, BBQ Quorn, Quorn and apple (??), Quorn Bolognese was last week.

Does anyone else think this isn't very good? I know I can give my DC packed lunches and that it's my choice they are vegetarian, but I'm not just thinking about us.

Thanks :)

Replying to the comment: "I think YABU. Vegetarians are probabky the minority (and in this case it was forced on them). Why should two completely different meals have to be cooked rather than just substituting the meat for quorn?"

I for one don't think it's reasonable to expect children to eat dead animals.

Serving the same food over and over again is a way to trigger allergies to it, as well as being deadly boring. No excuse for this lazy thinking! There are masses of easy and cheap veggie meal recipes they could use, including ones that would be enjoyed by meat eaters.

Just a heads up OP. This is in the Daily Mail.

It’s not a very accurate portrayal of the thread

Perhaps it would be easier to make all school meals vegetarian. That way you don't need to worry about pork, beef, halal etc...

Could you post the link? I can't see it on the DM website...

www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-6604099/Mother-slams-childs-school-offering-Quorn-daily-vegetarian-option.html

The veggie options are always an exact replica of the meat offering - so Quorn hotpot, BBQ Quorn, Quorn and apple (??), Quorn Bolognese was last week.

To be fair to the school, this is not the same as offering fish fingers every day! They are essentially offering different dishes with a meat substitute. Don't see anything much wrong with that. Also if your kids are only having these meals because you are replacing the kitchen in your house, it's only temporary, so hardly a disaster I'd say!

There is always an option of buying some ready made meals or making own sandwiches. Kitchen isn't really required for either of those options.

Hmmmm, I'm resisting the temptation to reply on the DM website, but for the record I didn't slam the school and I don't force my DC to eat a vegetarian diet.

As parents we all make choices for our children every single day, based on our own lifestyle, experiences and morals. Choosing what to feed them is just a part of this. People are also making a choice when they feed their children meat.

As I said in this thread. Yes, I can make my DC packed lunches instead, but this wasn't ever a thread just about my kids. It was a thread about a branded, highly processed food monopolising a primary school lunch menu. Quorn is neither cheaper or healthier than other vegetarian sources. I'm sure it's fine as part of a balanced diet, but not as the only source of protein.

My first DM thread (to my knowledge)... I don't know whether to feel proud or ashamed!

It's poor. Can you email the school? Perhaps suggest alternatives?

Quorn is essentially processed animal feed isn't it?

Vegetable lasagne, pasta, macaroni cheese, baked potato, and soups should be on offer surely? Why not give the other kids the option of healthier options?

And to the person who rubbished the claim that schools use Halal meat is wrong. My council certainly do buy Halal which I find outrageous.

"Quorn is essentially processed animal feed isn't it?" - no it really isn't. Perhaps you're thinking of soybean products?