Baltimore City recognized for vegetarian lunch efforts
Baltimore City Public Schools has been named the Most Vegetarian-Friendly Cafeteria in the nation by peta2, a Norfolk, Va.-based youth animal rights organization.
Baltimore beat out Gwinnett County Public Schools in Georgia, Prince William County Schools in Virginia, the Los Angeles Unified School District, and the Berkeley Unified School District in California.
Baltimore won the distinction for: its efforts to serve fruits and vegetables grown by local farmers; and Meatless Mondays, an initiative where students can chose from vegan and vegetarian foods such as spicy vegetarian chili, and Tex-Mex style black-bean nachos.
Baltimore beat out Gwinnett County Public Schools in Georgia, Prince William County Schools in Virginia, the Los Angeles Unified School District, and the Berkeley Unified School District in California.
Baltimore won the distinction for: its efforts to serve fruits and vegetables grown by local farmers; and Meatless Mondays, an initiative where students can chose from vegan and vegetarian foods such as spicy vegetarian chili, and Tex-Mex style black-bean nachos.
"Baltimore City Public Schools stands as a role model for school districts across the country when it comes to educating students about how their food choices affect not only their own health but also the world around them," said peta2 director Dan Shannon, in a prepared statement released today. "More and more young people are learning that the best thing that they can do for animals, the planet, and themselves is to go vegan."
Baltimoresun.com's 
Comments
Because they shove pizza at the kids almost every day. Serious the food is horrible 95% of the time. Look at the student surveys. I hope my students rise up against the garbage they serve.
Posted by: WHAT! | May 4, 2010 11:40 AM
Really? Let me see one meatless monday the kids options were refried beans or black beans at our school. You really think that our kids want to eat that? Our kids are hungry, they aren't getting good food at home and when they do get something good at school they practically lick the plate. There is no accountability for the cafeteria managers. Most days are students are not fed what is on the menu. The get tater tots laiden with salt and pizza 2 or 3 days a week. Really? We are spending too much money on this fancy NYC chef for the food to still suck and for the people working the cafeterias not be supervised. We are wasting really excellent opportunities to give the students the nutrition that they need.
I know that decent food is available from the government, my mom is a lunch lady. How about some accountability, how about making sure we are feeding our kids heathy options?
Posted by: BCPSS Teacher | May 6, 2010 8:22 AM
Where are these schools in Baltimore City (not charter, please) that are supposedly serving these healthy vegetarian meals. Students are still being served Pizza for breakfast. Who exactly took this poll and how many schools did the person(s) go into without notifiying the staff so that they are well prepared to be serving what they are supposed to be serving. Food in the cafeteria for Breakfast and Lunch is and has been (not a very funny) joke for far too long and to be paying some chef money that should be going to teachers for doing something that he knows was not going to be checked? Give me a break. We are wasting money on so many things and then put it out there as if it is when it is not.
Posted by: angeandre4 | May 7, 2010 9:52 AM
As an educator and a vegan, I think school children are worth a whole helluva lot more than cheap, hormone-laden factory farmed animal products. Many children, especially in low-income areas, can't identify common fruits and vegetables. Healthier options in schools are absolutely necessary, yet I do applaud the efforts to limit meat consumption.
Posted by: Chalk Face | May 8, 2010 11:48 AM