Queen’s Elementary School Becomes First in NYC to become 100% Vegetarian

The Active Learning Elementary School PS244 in Flushing, Queens has become the first school-of-its-kind to go completely meatless.  With a focus on nutrition and health education, the school began to decrease the amount of meat options offered during meal times, and in January they partnered with the non-profit organization, “New York Coalition for Healthy School Food” and went completely meatless.  This decision was publicly recognized on Tuesday by New York City schools chancellor, Dennis Walcott.

As the school started serving more vegetarian options, the staff saw the children gravitating towards those foods.  It made the decision to go completely vegetarian easier due to the popularity of these options.  The head chef at the school happens to be a parent of one of the students, and a vegetarian herself, making the transition to a meat-free menu even easier.  The school still offers traditional meals like, “Pizza Friday,” but they don’t include pepperoni on the pizza.  This feature is also positive because it shows children that being vegetarian does not mean giving up your favorite foods, it just means modifying them to have delicious flavor without the meat.

The meals still meet the USDA mandatory protein requirements demonstrating that it is possible to eat complete, healthy meals without the inclusion of meat.  The decision has not only been cost-effective, it is also health-conscious and is raising awareness about a meat-free lifestyle at an early age.  It also encourages children to eat a variety of foods they may not have previously tried because cooking meat-free involves more creativity than your normal hot dog and chicken nugget choices.

With the exclusion of animal meats, chances are children will be consuming more fruits and vegetables.  Excluding meats high in fat, such as red meat, will reduce saturated fat and cholesterol intake.  Not eating meat also reduces the impact that food production has on the environment, as well as the amount of money we spend on meat production.

PS244’s decision to go meatless is in keeping with Mayor Bloomberg’s agenda to get New York City on a healthier track.  Hopefully the success and positive results coming from their decisions will encourage other schools to do the same, or at least make steps towards a meat-free menu!

Your turn to take action: What’s your opinion on meat-free school lunches?

Like this post? Share it!