There has been a rise in the interest of veganism over the years, yet Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) has not provided enough vegan options for students.
The only vegan breakfast options offered by schools include apple juice, orange juice and sides of fruit. Not only are the options extremely limited, but they do not allow for a nutritionally balanced meal.
According to eatright.org, every meal should include grains, protein, fruit and vegetables.
The current FCPS breakfast menu excludes most of the necessities, which prohibits a vegan student from receiving a full meal.
For girls between the ages of 14 and 18, it is recommended to consume around 2,000 calories daily. Boys ages 16 to 18 are advised to eat 2,800 calories per day.
For vegan students that choose to eat school breakfast and lunch, FCPS does not provide quality meals with the proper nutrition or number of calories.
From a young age, FCPS students are taught about healthy food, and encouraged to eat balanced meals.
But, the limited vegan options in school cafeterias are setting up some students to be less concentrated and prohibiting them from reaching their full potential.
The simple solution may be for vegan students to have breakfast at home and bring lunch to school, but not everyone has the option to.
According to the FCPS website, approximately 28 percent of Fairfax County students are eligible for free or reduced lunch.
With over a quarter of the FCPS student population relying on school meals, cafeteria’s should have a variety of choices that can accommodate everybody’s needs.
For the vegan students that can’t afford to bring their own lunch, FCPS should increase the amount of nutritious vegan breakfast and lunch options. In addition, it is necessary for schools to begin introducing protein alternatives for students that do not eat meat or dairy.
2019-01-23