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.

If this thread isn't picked up by a red top I will be surprised.

You get that heading when MNHQ have commented on a thread, @SwingTheMonkey and @Ginisatonic

www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5416125-school-residential-vegetarianvegan-only

When you click on see all OP posts it shows just the two posts and then says ‘no more posts by MNHQ’. I don’t think that’s what it normally says. It would normally say ‘no more posts by OP name’. I’m just curious.

I think it's possibly just a glitch since MNHQ have posted too, but I do see what you mean now - sorry!

I guess in year 6 your child has an opinion? Or are they drowned out by your bigotry?

Why don't you just let the school face the consequences of its own choices? Either the kids will be perfectly happy with the food, in which case no problem. Or they will whinge and moan all week, in which case the school may think this ain't worth the candle and never go there again.

Out and about. Unprompted.

DS "ooo there's that vegan place we went to last year. Even I liked their food and would eat it"

He's a ardent meat eater and hates veg.

My point being - if it's good it doesn't matter if it doesn't have meat.

He's year 6.

Sadly, this is the 'Me me MEEEE! Wah wah!' World we live in now.

Sadly, this is the 'Me me MEEEE! Wah wah!' World we live in now.

I've been vegetarian since 1993 and vegan since 2001. I coulð just as well say my parents forced me into meat eating and imposed their diets onto me. I hate, hate! The fact that I used to eat meat.

Being brought up eating meat isnt a choice 'made by the child themselves' either.

I hope you take the results of the poll onboard @vgp1234 and accept you were being unreasonable.

I still can’t believe you contacted the sustainability centre to tell them you wanted them to make an exception for you child /change their entirely valid policy just because you don’t like the sound of it!

We have DD's vegan boyfriend here this weekend. We are eating food we can all eat. It is easier and cheaper (an just a bit more inclusive) that way.
I guess a sustainability place does that too. All (most??) religions can eat a vegan diet, doing one meal for all is more sustainable. Complaining about food that everyone can eat seems a bit excessive.

@floraldreamer that is a very specific / personal experience.

My children do not hate eating meat. If they did change from this view point, I would listen and adjust accordingly. I am not forcing anything on anyone. I am advocating for OPTIONS that cater for all - see the difference?

I would be asking the question of how they are going to ensure that the children get a balanced diet, including sufficient protein as well as carbs and veg, especially when they will presumably be doing energetic outdoor activities. Or is it not an outdoor activity residential? Same argument applies though - how will they make sure the children get sufficient nutrition during the visit.

@floraldreamer

To be clear - since you didn't read my posts properly:

I am gently objecting to the slightly superior tone in posts imply that eating vegan / vegetarian food will guarantee exposure / sophistication.

I think you are misinterpreting the comments somewhat.

The posts suggested that eating differently would broaden their palate. In this instance, the different food is vegetarian/vegan. Eating Polish food/Korean food/etc would similarly broaden their palate. It's to do with diversity of eating experiences rather than a particular type of cuisine.

@vgp1234 except that you are arrogantly assuming or presuming that us meat eaters are not capable of offering our children a mixed, wide range diet that exposes them to different cuisines and broadens their palates.

I'm not sure why you've quoted me and then tagged another poster but if you did mean to reply to me, I'm not arrogantly (or otherwise) assuming that meat eaters are not capable of providing a varied diet to their children. I know many meat eaters who do just that. I also know many who don't. However, eating outside your normal repertoire will broaden your palate, regardless of how broad it is to start with.

That said, there are a few posters (very much a minority) who definitely come across as being very limited in their ability or willingness to expose themselves or their children to a variety of cuisines.

@OchonAgusOchonOh I am
sorry for incorrectly tagging you. I apologise unreservedly.

I would prefer an apology for your unwarranted and unfounded accusation of me arrogantly assuming meat eaters aren't capable of providing a broad diet but I assume that won't be forthcoming

There's absolutely no reason for a "balanced diet" to include any meat. The idea that a "full" meal is meat, two veg and a side of bread, and a veggie meal is the same minus the meat is so outdated

Some posters really are unable to think outside of the meat and two veg box aren't they.

Pizza can be vegetarian for example yet can provide plenty of protein. Served with a side salad it makes a balanced meal.

This is exactly what my post was about. Make sure the children are being fed properly, on whatever diet, that's the important thing.
Not sure why @Pigtailsandall thought I'd be insisting on meat from my post. Not sure if you also thought the same?

Presumably you would ask the same questions of a residential venue that did provide meat.

Given there is no reason to assume a vegetarian venue won't meet nutritional standards, compared to one serving meat.