Schoolchildren in New York will be fed vegan lunches

New York City public school cafeterias are switching to vegan meals on Fridays under a new policy by health-conscious New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who has touted the benefits of a vegan diet. Daily News.

The city's school canteens were already completely "meat-free" on Mondays and Fridays, thanks in part to pilot program for vegetarian school meals. program launched Adams when he was president of the Borough of Brooklyn.

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But the transition to vegan Fridays, which begins this week, will take plant-based eating to the next level in city schools. Dairy-based vegetarian options such as mac and cheese, pizza and mozzarella sticks will be removed from the menu.

Milk will remain on the menu

Milk that is required to be served under USDA federal regulations will continue to be served.

"Vegetable Options" menu in schools means healthy eating and living and improving the quality of life for thousands of New York City students,” Adams said. “Vegetable meals are delicious and nutritious, which is why I previously called for vegetarian and vegan options in schools. I am very happy to see that all students will now have access to healthy food that will prevent debilitating health conditions.”

Parents, children and school leaders greeted the news with a mixture of excitement, awe and surprise.

None of the students or parents who spoke to the Daily News on Feb. 2 had heard of the culinary innovation. Only two of the five directors contacted by the publication were aware of the change, which should take effect in just a few days.

Education officials have said they will implement a grace period where some non-vegan but vegetarian alternatives, such as cheese sandwiches, peanut butter, jelly, hummus, and pretzels, will be temporarily available.

But the main dishes served on Fridays this month will look and taste very different.

Last month, meat-free Friday mains included sandwiches. с grilled cheese, macaroni and cheese and mozzarella sticks.

Friday February dishes - Is vegan vegetable tacos, mediterranean chickpeas, bowls of rice, black beans and banana.

Some children and parents are excited about the changes

“I'm all for offering our kids different options,” said Naomi Peña, a parent of middle and high school students on the Lower East Side. “One thing that the mayor said is 100% right is that the kids don't like the options that exist now. So why not experiment?"

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She only cares about the quality of vegan food, so she clarified, "No mysterious tofu of unknown origin."

Gianni Faruolo, a seventh grader at the Professional School for the Performing Arts, said he thought the switch to vegetables was "cool." His mom Dana Faruolo agreed: "I think it's great to have options and teach kids new tastes."

Other students and experts were more careful

Candace Jackson, 14 year old schoolgirl from Flushing, Queens, who attends a high school in Manhattan, said she is open to the idea of ​​vegan offerings but wants some dairy-based options as well.

“They should at least provide that [the dairy option], and then they can provide something non-dairy,” she said.

Health experts have said that the transition to veganism in urban schools could bring great benefits in terms of nutrition.

"The sooner we can develop healthy eating habits, the better," said Eugenia Gianos, director of cardiovascular disease prevention at Northwell Health and women's heart health at Lenox Hill Hospital. “I see our youth battling overweight, obesity and even diabetes at an ever younger age. Research shows that plant-based diets help people reach a healthy weight, so I applaud this positive move."

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Mayor believes his own veganism changed the diagnosis of type XNUMX diabetes.

Nicholas Freudenberg Professor of Public Health and Director of the Urban Food Policy Institute CUNY, emphasized the environmental benefits of reducing meat consumption.

“The New York City School Meals Program is the largest government nutrition program in the country after the US military program. This transition can change the situation both in the city itself and serve as an example for other systems,” he said.

But Freudenberg warned that the whole effort “only works if the kids eat the food. Careful work is needed to promote them, to involve children and parents, and to give children the opportunity to try it.”

Some school leaders and food service workers have said they are preparing for a "bumpy" transition and food being thrown away.

"I think it will be quite difficult," said one of the school's principals, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Some students have not yet heard about the new program

Donald Nesbit, vice president of DC37 Local 372, a union representing school food service workers, said some members expressed concern about how children would react to the new food system.

“I think that with any changes it is difficult at first, but the children adapt,” he said.

Eighteen-year-old high school student Julissa Rodriguez is surprised: “It is strange that we have not heard anything about this change,” although she supports it.

Education officials did not immediately say why there were no ads until January 28. But they noticed that the initiative would be advertised in schools and that all of the new vegan options had already been tasted and approved by small groups of students.

For some kids, the menu doesn't really matter.

“I think everything will be fine,” said Mianna Wright, 16, a sophomore in Manhattan. “We don’t actually eat school lunch, we go to cafes.”