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Original poster

School stopping Meat Free Monday doesn’t make any sense

139 replies

Miriamfriend · 01/09/2025 18:59

Our schools trust has recently stopped being part of Meat Free Monday for school lunches. The school have said some parents complained about it.

The school is very focused on being environmentally conscious- crisps not allowed as a break time snack due to potential errant packets, single use plastic actively discouraged etc. I can’t see a single reason why a school or a parent would have any issue with lunches being meat free for one day a week but maybe I’m missing something?

You are being unreasonable- being meat free for one meal is not a reasonable request

You are not being unreasonable -being meat free for one school meal is not a bad thing

OP posts:
Mynewnameis · 02/09/2025 08:10

Our meat free meals are pizza, ok.
Pasta bake- dd won't eat and I make packed lunch. Many kids didnt like it

Corfumanchu · 02/09/2025 08:10

I think it's right they are stopping it. I assume veggie options are always available. It is a case of forcing your own views on other people.

Scalextricks · 02/09/2025 08:23

It could be allergies?

My son is allergic to lentils, soy, egg and milk. Vegetarian/vegan meals are rarely safe for him.

Scalextricks · 02/09/2025 08:24

Simpleturnip · 01/09/2025 21:24

I have explained above, many meat substitues contain wheat/gluten. Throw in a dairy allergy and it rules out a lot of options whereas I know I can get a good meal if its meat or fish based. A healthy vegetarian diet is often harder to achieve for those with allergies.

Show quote history

Yes good point about a lot of meat substitutes containing wheat /gluten too

And ultimately being vegetarian/vegan is a choice. Having allergies isnt

Username12284949 · 02/09/2025 08:40

KnickerlessParsons · 01/09/2025 19:18

If they stopped using the term “meat free Monday” and just served up
macaroni cheese or something, no one would even notice.

DM (90) doesn’t like vegetarian food, but she’ll happily eat a meal with no meat in it if it’s just served up without a fanfare.

This is true, I’ve worked in a school kitchen for over 3 years and it was only recently I realised that every Tuesday was “meat free”.

Slightyamusedandsilly · 02/09/2025 08:46

Ekkekkkeekkkekk · 02/09/2025 07:31

Meat doesn’t cause cancer FFS.

Ancient foods don’t cause modern diseases.

Cows are PART of the carbon cycle, they don’t contribute to it. Unlike tilling and fossil fuels.

Actually, it is a factor in bowel cancer.

SumUp · 02/09/2025 08:47

GleisZwei · 02/09/2025 07:34

So, 'meat is carcinogenic' as a blanket statement is indeed incorrect.
Overconsumption of certain meats may contribute to cancer.
Lots of environmental and dietary factors may contribute to cancer.
There's no need for a specific day to be assigned to eating a certain way.

Edited
Show quote history

Taking other dietary and environmental factors into account, red and processed meats are carcinogenic. Read the research.

Schools have specific nutritional guidelines based on research findings like this. They also have tight budgets to deliver the meals, so they simply cannot afford to serve poultry every day, even the cheapest imported chicken is out of budget.

GleisZwei · 02/09/2025 09:01

SumUp · 02/09/2025 08:47

Taking other dietary and environmental factors into account, red and processed meats are carcinogenic. Read the research.

Schools have specific nutritional guidelines based on research findings like this. They also have tight budgets to deliver the meals, so they simply cannot afford to serve poultry every day, even the cheapest imported chicken is out of budget.

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My reply stands.
I have read more than you seem to realise.

Slightyamusedandsilly · 02/09/2025 10:08

GleisZwei · 02/09/2025 09:01

My reply stands.
I have read more than you seem to realise.

Show quote history

Well, giving evidence might give you more credibility. But just a bald statement isn't convincing.

Needspaceforlego · 02/09/2025 11:09

Its one of those things if you have kids with allergies or general fussiness its better they have as much choice as possible.

DiscoBob · 02/09/2025 11:13

I guess if a bunch of kids were shunning the food on meat free day and consequently not getting fed, and the food going to waste, then they have a decent reason to stop it.

Presumably they do still offer veggie options anyway so your kid can just choose that? But if a large proportion of parents were complaining they needed to keep them happy I guess.

I personally don't see any issue with one meat free day. But then again I wouldn't have touched any of the meat served at school dinners when I was a kid! I lived off grated cheese and grated carrots!

SweetnsourNZ · 02/09/2025 11:15

Bitzee · 01/09/2025 19:38

My kids school does it but bizarrely still offers a vegetarian option even though the Monday main is also veggie e.g. the main is tomato pasta but veggie is tofu thai curry. It doesn’t bother me except I’m not thrilled that quorn appears on the rotating menu because it’s ultra processed junk but it’s only every 3 weeks so not worth complaining about.

Maybe because the pasta contains egg so is not suitable for vegan children.

sashh · 02/09/2025 11:16

SweetnsourNZ · 02/09/2025 11:15

Maybe because the pasta contains egg so is not suitable for vegan children.

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I doubt any school is buying or making egg pasta.

GleisZwei · 02/09/2025 12:23

Slightyamusedandsilly · 02/09/2025 10:08

Well, giving evidence might give you more credibility. But just a bald statement isn't convincing.

Show quote history

I'm not aiming to convince you of anything. I'm just not interested in your evangelising. HTH

RimTimTagiDim · 02/09/2025 12:26

Corfumanchu · 02/09/2025 08:10

I think it's right they are stopping it. I assume veggie options are always available. It is a case of forcing your own views on other people.

It'll be because of ignorant parents like this, OP.

Slightyamusedandsilly · 02/09/2025 12:31

GleisZwei · 02/09/2025 12:23

I'm not aiming to convince you of anything. I'm just not interested in your evangelising. HTH

Show quote history

Why comment then? When I'm not interested I scroll past.

Needspaceforlego · 02/09/2025 12:44

RimTimTagiDim · 02/09/2025 12:26

It'll be because of ignorant parents like this, OP.

Show quote history

Its about choice.
Some children will eat a wide and varied diet. Others don't because they can't (multiple allergies) or won't (fussy sods)

While MN is a space of good food and massive salads. For some kids school lunch is about as good as it gets. Let's not forget those kids matter too.

Restricting diets further because of someone else's beliefs is madness.

RimTimTagiDim · 02/09/2025 12:48

Needspaceforlego · 02/09/2025 12:44

Its about choice.
Some children will eat a wide and varied diet. Others don't because they can't (multiple allergies) or won't (fussy sods)

While MN is a space of good food and massive salads. For some kids school lunch is about as good as it gets. Let's not forget those kids matter too.

Restricting diets further because of someone else's beliefs is madness.

Show quote history

Why are you quoting me and why are you talking about beliefs?

BleakAF · 02/09/2025 12:54

For some kids in a lower income family that meat might be the only hot protein they get in a day.

GleisZwei · 02/09/2025 12:57

Slightyamusedandsilly · 02/09/2025 12:31

Why comment then? When I'm not interested I scroll past.

Show quote history

I'm interested in the thread in general.
HTH

PamIsAVolleyballChamp · 02/09/2025 13:00

StayALittleLonger · 02/09/2025 04:00

My children’s school only offers vegetarian and vegan options. It seems to suit all the kids. I’ve only ever heard one parent complaining, but she’s very pro meat eating and quite weird about it. She knew the menu when she enrolled her child there and the child eats the food happily, which the mum clearly isn’t too happy about. Apparently the child wants to be vegetarian at home but her mum won’t let her.

Some people seem to think they’ll die if they don’t eat meat multiple times a day.

Apparently the child wants to be vegetarian at home but her mum won’t let her.
How do you know so much about this woman you are disparaging about and her child?
So for you pro meat is bad and awful..
Pro veggie/vegan, hip hip hurrah! 🤔

SalonDesRefuses · 02/09/2025 13:41

Bushmillsbabe · 01/09/2025 19:27

As others have said, this may have causes issues for children with allergies,coeliac disease etc. My daughters school has just completely changed their menu, and it has been an absolute nightmare for her as coeliac. The new provider uses extra cheap meat, with lots of fillers - gluten. So she is having to become a vegetarian at school - which isn't an issue if it was fresh food - she loves fresh veggies etc more than meat, but they often have meat replacements in them which also often contain gluten, so we are now a bit stuffed.

Our primary school does a main menu, a dairy free menu, a gluten free menu, an egg free menu and a sesame free menu. Some of these meals will overlap, but there's a separate menu for each and each one has 3 choices of main meal

If a child does have an intolerance or allergy then you have to fill out a form so that they have options for every child/don't over order food.

We do have planet-friendly Wednesday though. My dc might not like the menu any given day so will take a sandwich and whichever soup the schools provide instead.

StayALittleLonger · 02/09/2025 13:41

PamIsAVolleyballChamp · 02/09/2025 13:00

Apparently the child wants to be vegetarian at home but her mum won’t let her.
How do you know so much about this woman you are disparaging about and her child?
So for you pro meat is bad and awful..
Pro veggie/vegan, hip hip hurrah! 🤔

Show quote history

She brings up the topic of school dinners regularly. She has in the past tried to get parents to sign a petition to get the school to serve meat and lots of parents dread talking to her. Her husband is a farmer and she is quite forceful with her views on eating meat. The parents don’t want to get involved. I doubt they would want to get involved with a similar person on the other side, who was very pro vegetarian/vegan either. Our kids are happy with the food served so it’s unimportant to us. I know the child wants to be vegetarian because my child has said that is what she tells everyone at school.

Glitchymn1 · 02/09/2025 13:43

KnickerlessParsons · 01/09/2025 19:18

If they stopped using the term “meat free Monday” and just served up
macaroni cheese or something, no one would even notice.

DM (90) doesn’t like vegetarian food, but she’ll happily eat a meal with no meat in it if it’s just served up without a fanfare.

This^

Coconutter24 · 02/09/2025 13:50

PamIsAVolleyballChamp · 01/09/2025 20:16

Of course no one would be forced to eat meat.. its just its ridiculous the want to control others diet.

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Everyday there is the option of meat or veggie meal. That’s not wanting to control someone’s diet, both options are there to be had each day and parents/children are in control of which option is selected