THE head of an organisation behind plans for vegan school meals has moved to reassure parents concerned with the change in their children’s diets.

Plans were announced this month for Catering Leeds, which provides school dinners to 182 primary schools across Leeds, is set to trial ‘environmentally friendly’ school dinners in an attempt to help reduce the city’s carbon footprint.

But the news was met with scepticism by some parents, many of whom said they should be given a choice as to whether they want their children eating meat and dairy-free school dinners.

Philip Mansbridge is Executive Director of ProVeg UK, a food awareness non-profit, which the council consulted with on the new meal plans.

He said: “We recognise that there are natural concerns – and we understand them – any change can be scary, but the main thing to remember is that the new menus aren’t restricting choices, they’re just about creating a mix of delicious meals that the kids will love that are good for them and good for the planet.

"Who could argue with that?

Vegan school dinners to be served at primary schools in Leeds

“Everyone knows, now more than ever, the planet is facing a climate emergency. For those with children it must prey on their mind even more than most – what can I do to help ensure that my child grows up on a planet that can sustain them?

“That’s why it is such an important step that Catering Leeds is taking, by focusing on delivering school food that is not only delicious, but better for the planet and better for the children.

“We know that the word vegan can often strike fear and panic into parents’ hearts as it can so often conjure up outdated images of wilting lettuce and flavourless dishes, but fortunately the reality and the perception are so very different.

“Making menus more sustainable isn’t about forcing anything on anyone – the children will have a wealth of choice each and every day, three delicious meals per day, five days a week, with a scattering of vegan meals across the menu that they can choose or not choose at will.”

He added the changes would mean ‘no extra work for staff’, as they would be producing the same number of meals each day.

“There’s no doubt that this is going to prove popular amongst the increasingly climate aware pupils.

“Not changing anything will not change anything so if we want to be in tune with the youth of today, we need to adapt and represent them and do all we can to save their planet.”

A document which went before councillors this month claimed plans would see vegan dishes introduced to school lunch menus, with more vegetables included in main dishes and ‘even desserts’.

It’s all part of a scheme the council hopes will help halve carbon emissions in the city by 2020, which also includes doubling the authority’s fleet of electric vehicles and switching to renewable energy.

It follows research done by Leeds City Council, which found that 84 out of 88 young children surveyed would “not object” to having one meat free day per week to reduce their carbon footprint.