After new vegan options were introduced in the school cafeteria, many vegetarians and vegans were excited to finally have a proper meal during lunchtime. However, the availability of vegan options on the menu has become scarce, according to senior Satvika Iyer, who worked with district nutrition managers to create the vegan menu at MHS.
Currently, the vegan menu offers a vegan burrito and chana masala with rice, which were only two options out of the multiple that used to be offered for school lunch. This current version of the school menu disregards inclusivity and varying nutritional needs among students because of the lack of vegan options. It also marginalizes a substantial portion of the student population that rely on the cafeteria for lunch. This scarcity highlights an inequality in the school lunch system for students at MHS, especially those that have dietary restrictions or allergies to other options in the school cafeteria.
With the placement of the few vegan options near the front of the cafeteria, many students are drawn to the first available option of food, which leaves less vegan food behind for those who cannot eat anything else available in the cafeteria. Moving the vegan menu to a place that may not attract as many students, and therefore leaving more food for those who rely on the vegan menu as their meal for the day, may alleviate this issue.
Since a large proportion of the school’s population may not follow vegan or vegetarian diets, adding more vegan options to the school menu may take away from the lunch experience of those students as more effort could be put in preparing the vegan options rather than the non-vegetarian options. However, vegan and vegetarian meals are accessible to all since all people can eat them, wheras foods that include meat and other meat products are not.
Addressing this issue is consistent with the larger school community value of inclusion.The lack of available vegan and vegetarian meals discriminates against students of different cultures and religions whose diets are restricted by their religion, and those who follow a vegan diet for personal reasons. Those who practice Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, and many other religions would not be able to eat many of the options available in the cafeteria because of dietary restrictions on different types of meat and seafood.
MHS should take a closer look at its school lunch program to ensure that it caters to the needs of all students, especially those who are vegan and vegetarian. By addressing the current lack of vegan options and rebalancing the emphasis on non-vegan items, the school can create a more inclusive environment for everyone in terms of their diets. This approach not only promotes student well-being but also reflects a commitment to respecting the diverse choices and preferences within MHS.