‘It’s so important to eat tasty foods that keep us healthy and energised during the day, are kind to the planet, and don’t hurt animals’
12-year-old Omari McQueen has appealed to the secretary of state for education asking for an end to mandatory meat in school meals.
Britain’s youngest vegan chef has joined the PETA campaign calling the government to remove the requirement for servings of fish, meat, and dairy from the School Food Standards and replace it with more flexible nutritional guidelines.
The campaign is also supported by other organizations and individuals – including Paul, Mary, and Stella McCartney, founders of Meat Free Monday; Greenpeace UK, the Royal Society for Public Health; and others.
‘Time to revise the School Food Standards’
In the letter, PETA notes that the current mandate for animal-derived foods limits schools’ capacity to serve children climate-friendly vegan foods.
It highlights that the current regulations are out of step with the ‘Eatwell Guide’- the government’s own nutritional advice to the public- which allows for nutritional needs to be met without meat and dairy.
McQueen, who turned vegan at the age of 7 said: “It’s so important to eat tasty foods that keep us healthy and energised during the day, are kind to the planet, and don’t hurt animals.
“Because we don’t need meat or dairy, schools should be able to choose if they want to serve them.”
Paul McCartney, another supporter of the campaign added: “No one needs to eat meat, so it shouldn’t be mandatory to serve it in schools. It’s time to revise the School Food Standards to help the planet, spare animals, and promote healthy eating.”
‘From strength to strength’McQueen is the UK’s youngest multi-award-winning vegan chef. He is also the CEO and founder of Dipalicious dips as well as the author of his upcoming Best Bites Cookbook.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CBVTtBdJlVs/
Turning chef at 8 years following his mother’s ill health, “Omari has gone from strength to strength and practices different cooking skills and meals daily, he researches the benefits of everything he cooks and works out the benefits of what he eats,” states the Dipalicious website.
Share this story to support PETA’s campaign calling on the government to end mandatory meat and dairy servings in school meals
Lifestyle
Vegan culture, food, beauty & more
Bristol crowned most vegan-friendly city in the UK
- Mohsina Dodhiya
- 13th January 2021
The city ranked just above London, Edinburgh, and Belfast as one of the top cities for vegans. Bristol has earned the top spot of being the most vegan-friendly city in the UK, according to new research. With over 1 million Brits now taking up a plant-based lifestyle – with many inspired by Veganuary- the study …
Lewis Hamilton awarded knighthood in UK’s New Year Honours list
- Mohsina Dodhiya
- 1st January 2021
“All of us congratulate him on this well-deserved recognition of his achievements and look forward to seeing more of his brilliance in 2021.” Lewis Hamilton has added another feather to his cap after he was knighted in the UK’s New Year Honours List, officially declared on Wednesday evening. The honour, which is in recognition of …
VEGAN MEMES
NEED A LAUGH?
QUIZZES
All the quizzes you love to binge!
QUIZ: If you score 11/12 on this quiz, you’re a verified vegan food expert
- Marlon Farrugia
- 10th January 2020
How much vegan knowledge do you have stored away? Do you have to Google your way through a shopping trip, or do you have all the bad E-numbers memorised? Find out now with this quiz. Marlon Farrugia Marlon Farrugia is a freelance writer from Brighton. He has been a dedicated vegan for many years, and …
QUIZ: What is your perfect Vegan Halloween Costume?
- Marlon Farrugia
- 13th October 2019
Spook Season approaches. There will be ghosts, goblins, ghouls, and glucose. You need a costume, and you want to it to show off your personality, which means VEGAN. But what to choose? Take our quiz to find out your perfect outfit. Marlon Farrugia Marlon Farrugia is a freelance writer from Brighton. He has been a …
QUIZ: What kind of vegetable are you?
- Marlon Farrugia
- 26th September 2019
“If you were a vegetable, what kind would you be?” A question that has tormented humanity throughout the ages – until now. Read: QUIZ: If you score 19/20 on THIS quiz, you’re a Vegan God Marlon Farrugia Marlon Farrugia is a freelance writer from Brighton. He has been a dedicated vegan for many years, and …