Veganism in Public Schools by Jan Herzog

Raising vegan and vegetarian children.
Enjoying a healthy life.

Kermit the Frog complained that it's not easy being green, and by the same token, it's not easy eating green, at least for students and teachers trying to find vegan meals in public school cafeterias in the United States. I teach in a Montessori public school in Wichita Falls, Texas, and my
seven-year-old daughter happens to be in my class. As vegans, we are definitely in the minority at our school. (Well, okay, actually we are the ONLY vegans in our school!) She has always brought a lunch from home (as I have) and that's an option that works fine most of the time. However, when a lunch is accidentally left at home, or when for some reason it's just not convenient to prepare a lunch, it would certainly be nice to know you could count on buying something at the cafeteria as a "backup plan." Besides, sometimes you would like to be "part of the crowd" and eat a lunch at least somewhat like that of your colleagues.

The problem is that meat and dairy are front and center of every single
meal served in school cafeterias. Here are the entrees for one week's menus from our district: chicken and dumplings, lasagna with meat and cheese, chicken fried steak, Frito chili pie, and turkey spaghetti. Small servings of a vegetable such as broccoli, corn, sweet potatoes or green salad are available but the kids often have to ask for them! Most don't ask, although I've taught my students to speak up. Fruit might be orange or apple wedges but more likely would be canned fruit cocktail or the ever-present "congealed fruit." The cafeteria manager says they don't put these side dishes on the trays automatically because "so much is wasted." I say the kids are much more likely to eat at least a little of their veggies and fruits if they have them on their tray--not many little ones are going to speak up and request them.

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This reliance on animal products is due in large part to the government's obligation to buy surplus products from farmers and ranchers and
dump them into the schools, an arrangement that has been firmly in place for many years. It seemed to serve two purposes back when it was thought that everyone, especially growing children, simply had to have animal products at every meal to ensure proper nutrition. The government could help out farmers and ranchers and at the same time, help schools provide kids with food they needed to be healthy. Feed two birds with one feeder, to change an old but very violent saying.

Now that nutritionists know that meat and dairy products are not necessary for good health, and that most of our serious illnesses are related
at least in part to the consumption of these products, you might think that the system would change accordingly. If the health of our school children were the only consideration, this would undoubtedly be true. But we know it's not. "Politics" and the interests of the meat and dairy industry keep the system in place.

The belief of most parents, teachers, cafeteria managers and administrators in the Standard American Diet keeps things from changing much, as well. My colleagues often complain about the cafeteria meals, but I usually overhear something like, "Where's the PROtein in this meal? Macaroni and cheese? Nachos? Where is the meat? This is all starch!" Sometimes, if I'm in a patient mood, I try to explain that it's not the few meatless meals that should concern us, but the heavy reliance on meat and cheese and the lack of fresh fruits and vegetables. But, they don't "get it" because they've been thoroughly convinced that kids need meat and that "too much starch" will make them unhealthy. Even doctors rarely recommend an entirely plant-based diet to patients, thinking, "they won't accept it." So I'm not surprised when the other teachers are skeptical of my claims.

So what can be done?

A new bill just passed in the Texas Legislature may eventually help those who want to see better school lunches get some changes made. To be phased in over six years into all school districts, the plan for improved school food is part of a comprehensive effort to educate students about healthful food choices and how what they eat affects their health. Manny Najera, State Representative from El Paso, was responsible for this giant step toward improved health for our school children, and we owe him a big debt of gratitude for his efforts. He is rightfully concerned about the rate of diabetes and other diseases now being diagnosed in young children, due to lack of exercise and poor nutrition. This legislation also addresses the importance of exercise and other good health habits, and puts physical education classes back into the daily curriculum where they belong.

For the present, though, it may take some creative thinking to make changes. This bill won't immediately affect all schools. Teachers need to be educated about the need for plant-based eating, parents need to be
convinced, and students need to learn that there is more to life than greasy pizza, chocolate milk and nachos.

I have taught four years now, and I've made a real effort to teach my bilingual first, second and third graders (about half of whom are already
overweight) that fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts, and whole grains are delicious and good for you. Since we have a daily "snack time" (a tradition
in most Montessori classrooms) this is a perfect time to do just that.

All my students know that my daughter Emily and I are vegetarians and most of them also understand that we are vegans, although that concept is more difficult for them than the idea that we simply don't eat meat. Some of them understand our reasons; some are still clueless.

I walk a fine line. I want desperately to improve the health of my students (and also would like to introduce them to the other reasons for veganism). At the same time, I can't afford to alienate administration or parents by telling the kids that their parents and the cafeteria are trying to poison them with all the meat and dairy products, torturing animals and ruining the environment in the process! Tempting as it is, I wouldn't last long with that approach. And really, I don't ever want to make kids feel uncomfortable or criticize their parents' way of life.

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I try instead to emphasize the wholesomeness and importance of fresh natural foods and to help the kids cultivate a taste for them. Some people are surprised to learn that for the most part, the kids love trying new fruits and veggies and even tofu products such as veggie hot dogs. A lot depends upon the way they are presented to them. The old idea that kids hate foods that are good for them really annoys me! I heard a counselor tell a student last year, "You sure wouldn't want to be at my house tonight. We're having ASPARAGUS!" It was so frustrating to hear that...so many adults persist in that kind of negative thinking. I had to butt in and say, "Oh, my kids LOVE asparagus! Fresh steamed asparagus with lemon is such a treat!" The counselor didn't like it much, but I couldn't help it. They just don't think, and they should. Our attitudes carry over and affect our kids so profoundly.

Parents take turns sending the food for our snacks, and I try very hard to get them to send carrot or celery sticks, fruits or whole-grain crackers. We still end up with the occasional package of cookies, but we are getting there. I bring lots of food myself to make sure they get to sample things their parents are not familiar with.

I don't believe anyone can criticize me for promoting the "5 a Day" program which encourages people to eat five servings of fruit/veggies a day, and I use that excellent material (available free from Dole) with much success in the classroom. We use such stories as the traditional "Stone Soup" to make a healthful vegetable soup. A book called Everybody Eats Rice is a wonderful way to emphasize the importance of this staple in a variety of cultures. Often multicultural lessons can include a reference to natural foods from that culture.

I'm especially excited about this coming school year. Our school plans to have a room for scientific and art activities which includes a kitchen area! Perfect timing--this summer, I bought a curriculum for teaching kids about healthy plant-based eating called Food Is Elementary by Antonia Demas, Ph.D., of the Food Studies Insitute in Trumansburg, NY. Dr. Demas attempts to "turn kids on to food rather than off of nutrition." Her tactic is to emphasize what we should eat, rather than what we shouldn't, to keep from alienating anyone, and I think this is the safest strategy when working in the schools.

It's not easy. Parents, teachers and kids have been taught that they need the "four food groups" to be healthy. What's worse is that lunches that kids bring from home seem to indicate that potato chips, cookies and Cokes occupy one entire food group, and white bread and ham/bologna with mayo are another major group. They are often worse by far than the cafeteria lunches. And corporate interests have found their way into our schools; we have a beautiful new pavilion in our playground which was built with "Coke money" -- money received when our school district contracted with Coke to allow them to advertise in our schools. So far, our school doesn't have vending machines for students, but some in our district do.

But with a little creative thinking and a lot of planning, I do what I can to fight these influences and help my students avoid life-long diet-related health problems. And so far, one third-grader has taken the veg pledge! Luckily for her and for me, her mother is supportive, although the family doesn't plan to follow suit.

As for my own daughter, I have also used a bit of creativity. The present rules on cafeteria food are that no substitutions can be made in the lunches except for students who have a physician's note stating that the child, for health reasons, needs dietary modification. Dr. Neal Barnard of the Physicians' Committee for Responsible Medicine provided me with a note which reads: "To Whom It May Concern: Please provide vegan meals (meals with no animal products) to Emily Herzog, which are requested for health reasons."

I presented this note to my cafeteria manager last year, and she consulted with her supervisor, who told her that she could substitute extra plant foods for the meat and dairy, and that she could serve Emily juice instead of milk. I would advise parents in similar situations to contact Dr. Barnard at PCRM unless they are lucky enough to have a family physician who supports veganism.

It's easy to become frustrated when trying to work for changes in society. But when I look at how much more veggie-friendly things are now than they were 16 years ago when I became a vegetarian, it puts things into perspective. It is definitely getting better. Educate your children's teachers, and other parents. Speak to PTA boards. Use Representative Najera's bill as a tool for speaking with others. Get doctor's notes asking for vegan meals. Keep letters to the editor going. Check out Earthsave and other great websites for more ideas. Share with each other and support each other. Great things can happen if we make them happen!

PCRM report on school lunches.

Dallas-Fort Worth Vegetarian Education Network.

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