Parents Support Meatless Mondays; Meat Institute Doesn't
The Baltimore city school district has adopted Meatless Mondays as a way of cutting costs and encouraging children to eat healthier, and their school cafeterias now offer only meatless foods on Mondays. On the day that a TV crew visited, the menu included vegetarian chili, grilled cheese, corn, green beans, refried beans and fruit. Even though the entire menu is not vegan, it challenges the notion that meals should include meat. CNN was unable to find any parents who object to the program, but the American Meat Institute, of course, was up in arms, citing a lack of choice by parents and children and a false statistic that 75% of children are not getting enough protein.
First, feigning an interest in the rights of children and parents to choose is a popular tactic by industries that peddle dangerous products - alcohol, tobacco, meat, etc. The Center for Consumer Freedom, a non-profit organization funded by these industries, has turned this rhetoric into its mantra. Where were they when my school cafeteria offered no meatless entrees? Obviously, they have no concern - real or feigned - about choices if their products are the only choices.
And in what country do 75% of children not get enough protein? Certainly not the United States, where the USDA has found that 80.1% of all Americans meet the Dietary Reference Intake of protein, and 81.9% of all people in Maryland meet the protein DRI.
Lastly, meat is not the only source of protein, as I'm sure the American Meat Institute would like people to believe. Their statement implies that children not eating meat will not get sufficient protein from vegetarian sources, which is absolutely incorrect. For the record, the American Dietetic Association supports vegetarian and vegan diets.
Oh, and if you visit the Huffington Post website to watch the CNN video, ignore the commercial for Tide. Tide is owned by Proctor & Gamble, which tests on amimals.
Suggested Reading:
- Factory Farming FAQ
- What is Veganism??
- Vegetarian Health and Nutrition Info from the Guide to Vegetarian Food
- Proctor & Gamble Kills Animals
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Comments
Great article! I am a vegan and wish I had this choice when I was in school. I remember how I hated the meat and sloppy joes they always served. My hope is these children will ask why they are not eating meat and then the lessons will begin about the abuses of the animals they are eating the rest of the week.
Good job Doris! I think Big Meat is a little scared, or else they wouldn’t be making such a big deal out of this. After all, we’re talking about one meal out of five at school, and one out of 21 meals in a full week. That means that kids who have 3 meals a day 7 days a week can still eat meat 20 out of 21 times. I think the meat industry is afraid this trend will continue and spread so they’re trying to nip it in the bud with lies and scaremongering. It would be interesting if we could find out in a year or so how many students have reduced or eliminated their meat intake as a result of this program.
Oh they do sound desperate complaining about “limiting choices” one day a week… As if the other 4 days a week have any “choices” for those who don’t eat meat! It’s shameful how one-sided they are in their slanted views about “protein”.
Thanks for exposing this flawed (non) thinking!
WorldVeganDay(dot)info
Hi Doris, Interesting article. I always enjoy reading your blogs, very informative and I feel like I am getting an education at the same time.
As you are well aware, I am neither Vegan or Vegetarian, however I know many people who are and I respect that and I usually abide by their dietary guidelines when I am out with them – I actually enjoy eating differently and learning about other food alternatives, other than meat. So, I have to agree with you that Meatless Monday’s in school is an excellent idea. Don’t schools already do this on Friday’s during Lent? There has to be a way to get this to work. Coming from a meat eater, it’s no big deal to designate one day out of the schoolweek to be meatless. There are so many other sources of protein out there. John649 hit it on the head when he said that he disliked the meat and the sloppy joes (Didn’t we call it mystery meat?!)that was served in school when we were growing up and it hasn’t changed much from what my daughter says. There are plenty of Meat-Free options available for school lunches today.(Waffles, Mac & Cheese, Cheese Pizza, Grilled Cheese…)Keep up the hard work and if you need help with this fight, you know how to get in touch with me. : )