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.

It does look really good. I can't believe OP asked them to provide meat options. That is arrogance on an extraordinary level!

They were supposed to change their menus, their suppliers, their ethos, just for OP's child?

https://www.sustainability-centre.org/beech-cafe.html

Most kids (including op’s child) do not have these issues, and you’re not going, so… what’s your point?

As long as the food is nutritious, tasty and filling and that they cater for all the kids dietary requirements does it matter? Surely it’s a good thing for children to try different food to what they would have had at home/ school to give them a different experience? If the venue is good I would expect that the venue would still give menu choices based on taste preferences but it would just be veggie/ vegan? Hope you child has a good time on the residential - I’m sure when they look back on it in years to come it will be the funny anecdotes of spending time with their classmates they remember and not the food (although on mine 25+ years ago I had my first cup of coffee which I remember vividly!)

Perhaps that's what the OP is worried about... her ds might get converted!

I can't help but wonder if it's going to be a food allergy nightmare. Nuts, Legumes, gluten, Quorn, milk, various fruits/vegs are all common allergens. Then you have texture issues... 🤔

Yes, theoretically. For some, though, plant protein does not have the same effect on the blood sugar as animal protein. I know myself if I eat lentils/chickpeas etc and no animal protein, I'll be satisfied at the end of the meal, but hungry and shaky and unable to think straight two hours later, whereas with animal protein I won't be. Same with DD, so on an active residential she'd be struggling. However, I know we're in a minority.

You realise you serve your children vegetarian food every day.

Why are you so insistent on your dc eating meat. The number of cancers linked with meat consumption is a huge issue worldwide wide. People die because of their meat consumption

Meat eating is linked to climate change

I can sympathise as I have just attended a conference where the food was vegetarian and not very nice- curried chick pea sandwich anyone? However I think that this is not a thing you should make a big deal about if you are wanting your child to keep attending this school.
Maybe have a bit of fun with it at home before the event- try a different vegetarian meal once a week.
There may be some you all like - a vegetarian lasagne ? or some you all hate and can have a laugh about.
Either way it would be nice to demonstrate to your child that sometimes we need to change our habits to accommodate others and get along. I am sure that you can make this a fun thing and teach that it is good to be open minded and flexible.
And you can promise them their favourite dinner when they get home!

Yes this is correct, but they should be set up to cater for this. That said, though, meat is one of the least allergenic food groups, especially lamb.....

I and my whole family have been veggie for 50 years... Good vegetarian food rarely uses 'fake meat' and a place which is designed to educate about sustainability and has this diet as part of its mission will have thought very carefully about how to open the minds of people to a new way of eating (by providing delicious food and helping kids to open their minds to it). The food will almost definitely be more varied, healthy, fresh, and tasty than what you get at the average PGL place.

Children with eating issues will often struggle to eat anything that is not exactly the way it is made at home.

It is sad that parents, instead of embracing a new experience, would try to close their children's minds to it.

I love Coronation Chickpea sandwiches so yes please!

Just let them experience it. Perhaps explain both sides of the story and why people and associations choose the different diets. Use it as an opportunity for your child to experience and learn. I used to take parties of children abroad to residential centres and was stunned at the ignorance and bad manners of many of them. I had a word with the group lead and we explained the experience and knowledge behind the experience, taught them proper table manners, how to eat with a knife and fork, sit at the table, and have a conversation. We even taught them to serve each other. The absolutely loved it and told their parents all about their experiences when they got home.

It’s a great idea. The children will learn that they can have a varied, tasty, nutritious diet without eating meat at every meal.

I bet some won’t even notice there’s no meat on offer.

I can’t eat meat as I can’t digest it.

Somehow don’t think Quorn will be on the menu

Your child is in year six so presumably last year of primary school. Only you can decide if you want them to miss the trip or not. Maybe they’ll go and eat lots of nice food that just happens to be vegetarian and come home wanting to eat less meat?

if you or your child have food allergies, you notify the school asap.

That is not the same as "wah wah wah my child will be expected to eat food we don't make at home wah wah wah" is it? Medical issues, sure, tell the school, no medical issues? it is 5 days. give it a try.

Oh, you are silly. 😅

I can’t believe anyone would complain about this (unless belonging to the Army of the Perpetually Offended).

The child comes home with this news. The parent says ‘This will be a great experience for you, I believe they have lots of yummy food, let me know if you have a favourite and we can cook it when you get back!’. Job done. The kid is excited and happy to go off to camp and eat the food. No need for complaining from anyone.

I say this as a meat eater, who is veg whenever I don’t know/am not happy with where the meat has comes from (with my own personal ethics), which pretty much means whenever I eat out of home where I don’t buy the meat.

that sounds delicious. Must try (can you recommend a recipe?)

Perhaps!

Sample menu looks lovely

This.

And the same would apply if meat WAS on the menu. The school needs to know about medical issues, but they can't cater for each individual child's (and parent's) personal preferences.

Lack of resilience among children and young people is becoming an increasing problem and this OP perfectly illustrates why. Instead of encouraging your child to consider a different diet for a few short days, demonstrating to them that unfamiliar experiences are ok, you've expected the residential centre to bend around your child. You cannot smooth every obstacle from your child's life. Teach them to cope, don't teach them that they can't cope!

I sympathise with you OP, and would not be very happy about this at all. As an adult, I would not be very pleased to be expected to go for 5 days without my preferred type of food, let alone a child! However, as usual, it is the minority which is given priority over the majority which seems to be the standard now!

@WelliesandWashing I wish I could have sent you mine. However I think we can all agree that whatever the food is, it can be made well or badly. I am sure your version is lovely.
Will not say any more about some of the other options!