NYC Students Speak Out Against New Vegan Friday Lunch Policy
New York City Mayor Eric Adams has been facing a lot of issues since he was sworn into office on January 1, 2022. Crime, poverty, and homelessness are among the serious issues the new mayor is facing in the Big Apple. However, during a recent media event, Adams talked about fresh foods and even held up a cucumber, telling the crowd, “That food has life.”
On February 3, 2022, the New York City schools Twitter account posted a notice that NYC school cafeterias “are going vegan on Fridays! Plant-based options in schools mean healthy eating and healthy living and improving the quality of life for thousands of NYC students,” according to the Twitter posting. However, not all students are happy with this new policy.
Recently, some NYC students spoke out about the new vegan Friday school lunches for a segment on “Jesse Watters Primetime.” One student said she disagreed with the new vegan Friday lunch policy that’s now in place for the rest of the school year. “I don’t think that should be a priority at all,” this student said about vegan lunch offerings every Friday.
Another student said candidly, “I like meat more.” And still, another said the food that students are offered on Fridays doesn’t look like “something you want to eat.” One student reported that many of them won’t eat those lunches and instead will wait until they’re out of school for the day to eat. The vegan meals don’t make them feel satisfied, they said. Eating meat is not a bad thing, one student said, as you “need protein.”
The kids also had a clear message for Mayor Adams. One pleaded, “Please don’t force food for me to eat,” while another said, “Invest more money in schools.” The overall message for the mayor was this: “I want to enjoy lunch.”
It’s clear that the new vegan Friday lunch policy is not popular with all NYC students. While Mayor Adams has good intentions with his focus on fresh foods and healthy living, it’s important to consider the opinions and needs of the students who will be directly impacted by this policy. Perhaps a compromise can be reached that includes both vegan and non-vegan options to ensure that all students have access to satisfying and nutritious meals.
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