School residential vegetarian/vegan only

[vgp1234]

My child had really been looking forward to their year 6 residential, but a new head has joined and had changed the format somewhat.

They have now booked a Sustainability Centre in Hampshire, which only caters for vegetarians and vegans. My child is not a vegetarian or vegan, and across the cohort of year 5 and 6 only one child is vegetarian.

While I appreciate that there is a view that they can go 5 days without meat and they should just suck it up, I find it incredibly frustrating that you would not ask a vegetarian or vegan child to suck it up and eat meat for 5 days. So I don't understand why we do not treat both dietary preferences with equal measure.

The new head is very keen on government guidance, and has changed our lunch menu to comply with the current guidance for school lunches which is that 3 days should include meat or fish (previously we had a meat and vegetarian/vegan option every day). However it seems this guidance only applies on the school site, so you can disregard it at a residential. While they are within their rights to do this, it does seem like quite a contradiction.

I have tried speaking to the Sustainability centre directly but they were very inflexible and just stated it is a against their ethos (may I add that they also offer a day trip at a cost to visit a working farm, who rear animals for meat, so their ethos does not run all that deep). This really goes against my ethos as not only do I think you should treat all groups equally, I can't help but feel that this is forcing their ideas on children verses allowing them free choice and the ability to hear both viewpoints (meat is unsustainable/sustainable) and make their own decision.

In all honesty I'm quite perplexed as to why the school choose the venue when it would clearly be controversial, as this is quite a personal choice for parents and the cohort has so few in it that have this dietary preference.

I'm sure some people will not agree with me, and I am open to your opinions as I'm a big believer in hearing both sides of the argument and our ability to think critically for ourselves and not be told what to think (I want this for my child too).

I do plan to send the school an email initially and request that they provide a rounded menu including meat. But I'd really appreciate any advice on how to word this appropriately as I'm quite upset by it, and I'd prefer to send a well worded email than an emotional one.

The school chose the location! The centre didn't demonstrate at the school gates coercing vulnerable children to eat despicable foods like magherita pizza and hummus 🤣
The centre offers a variety of foods found routinely in an omnivorous diet.

Can we see the heinous virtue signalling menu again?

Its hysterical. Have you seen the meat in school
dinners? They literally get 2 pieces of pepperoni on pizza. It’s a minuscule amount of meat. They will barely notice- unless parents make a big fuss for them.

That might be the case but that is not relevant here in England. It is possible to feel gratitude for not being in a famine ravaged or war torn country and want to eat meat.

It is the principal of forcing Vegetarianism or veganism on omnivores, it doesn't matter whether it is for a week or a year.

If you don't understand what is wrong with that, I cant help you.

It is really quite amusing.

There is nothing wrong with it as the vast majority agree.

Except meat. Not all school food is chicken nuggets.

The vast majority are never wrong are they...

Schools always make great choices. Don't they? Like streaming children from reception age... Teaching about 72 genders... Phonics for all... Sats...

It is the principal of forcing Vegetarianism or veganism on omnivores, it doesn't matter whether it is for a week or a year.

You are being ridiculous.
If the menu at a school residential is fixed then whatever is on the menu is "being forced" on to the children whether it is vegetarian, vegan or a carnivore's delight.

If parents are too precious to allow their children to eat vegetarian food for 5 days (dietary/medical needs excepted) then they have the option not to go.

Honestly, the hysteria surrounding this is mind boggling. The children are human beings, not cats.

I am an omnivore BTW, with an open mind.

I'm vegetarian and never take milk or soya. I rarely eat wheat as part of a meal either.

If you can't take any dairy, then that would restrict you a bit more but looking at my meals for the past week, I only thing I would have to adjust for your restrictions is replacing the yoghurt I eat in the morning and the sandwich I had for lunch a couple of days.

This is absolutely ridiculous op. Honestly get better problems. No wonder people don’t want to teach ffs

You don't eat cheese, pasta or grains ( no rice, no bread) what do you eat ? Met and 2 veg ?

Exactly!

My child must be offered meat at every meal!!!!

Or is meat once a day acceptable? How much meat? Does it have to be steak, or could it be liver? Brawn?

Please specify the amount and type of meat that every child on every residential trip must be offered. Make sure to allow for restrictions such as halal, kosher, free range/organic etc

Yes is precious to expect omnivores to have the same choice as vegetarians and vegans. So very precious.

An omnivore who eats toast and marmite for breakfast, a cheese and pickle sandwich with crisps and a banana for lunch, and a pesto pasta bake with salad and garlic bread for tea hasn't changed their diet to vegetarian. No one is imposing or forcing anything. Just implementing a change to the normal rotation of meals. Steak and chips can come on day 6 when back at home.

Omnivores should be eating vegetarian food if they have any interest in staying vaguely healthy. I don't think I've ever met an omnivore who doesn't eat vegetarian food. They frequently eat it with meat but eat it none the less.

They are being offered the same choice as the vegetarians and vegans.

This. Mass produced meat meals at school/ college etc are always foul. Same with hospital stays. I'm not vegetarian but I absolutely am if I have to stay in hospital. If I was going on a residential trip I'd choose the veggie meals so I stood a slightly better chance of being able to eat something vaguely edible.

I eat meat and can’t see what your issue is with this at all

This thread is wild.

Trump-ism at its finest. Protect your own rights at any cost - even when it means ignoring a valuable learning opportunity that might, just might expand your world view (or your child's in this case).

Sometimes if it waddles and quacks - it's a duck. Not a conspiracy to rob you of your 'rights'.

Residentials are learning experiences, let it be that. Not just home, on repeat. Little Johnny will survive without a chicken nugget for a few days and who knows they may come back asking to no longer eat them. Perhaps this is what frightens you

Same here.
I do find this frustrating though OP.
Good quality, grass reared, British meat is not unsustainable. It’s annoying that all meat gets put into the same box as it’s just not comparable to imported, soy fed, feed lot meat in terms of quality or sustainability.
I guess you’re not going to get that on a school trip though so maybe going veggie is better!

Your child is an omnivore? Then they are being catered for perfectly adequately.
Write an email to the school expressing your views if it makes you feel better 🤭

No what is pathetic and ignorant is people not understanding other people’s preferences! Vegan and vegetarians eat what you want but don’t preach to me! And you’re not superior because you don’t eat meat.

it’s food! Fuck me call the social services I give my kids meat.

It’s a school residential, not a stay at a 5* hotel. The food will be nutritious and healthy. Why do individuals preferences need to come into play? My kids went on a residential last year and the meal choices were shit. They didn’t fancy any of it. But they went and made the best of it because they’re not entitled brats.