Cambridge University votes for school dinners to go plant based. Is it now time for all UAE schools to Lead by Example?

Cambridge University students have voted to push for a completely vegan menu across its catering services.

The UK university’s student union voted this week to “initiate talks” with central catering services about removing all animal products from its cafes and canteens, creating a “sustainable and 100 per cent plant-based” menu.

The decision came after lobbying from Cambridge’s Plant Based Universities campaign, which is supported by Animal Rebellion, an offshoot of activist group Extinction Rebellion. The group’s motion, which calls for the change in response to “climate and biodiversity crises”, was backed by 72 per cent of non-abstaining student representatives who voted.

However, the student union’s decision does not guarantee that Cambridge’s catering services will go fully vegan, as the power to change food policies lies with the university. The vote also does not directly apply to the university’s 31 colleges, although the campaign said that it provided “an extremely strong mandate for colleges to begin transitioning to 100 per cent plant-based menus”.

Should UAE schools be going plant-based? Is it time to lead by example?

In January 2023, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, announced that the environment and sustainability are one of the country top five priorities for the new year.

With a world-leading university like Cambridge, with its 800 years of history, taking such a progressive decision towards a more environmental, plant-based lifestyle, is it time that educational institutions in the pioneering UAE follow suit?

Liz Van Graan, a Dubai-based mother who is raising her own children as vegans and runs the website Vegan Kids Dubai – which aims to break the stigma against vegan kids – believes that UAE schools should seriously consider eschewing meat from their menus:

“We think schools should definitely consider plant-based meals. They are supposed to set an example and teach children about all the ways to save our planet, which includes your diet.”

Lucy Bruce, owner and director of Home Grown Children’s Eco Nursery in Dubai, agrees:

“As a parent, educationalist and a temporary resident of Planet Earth, I personally would welcome a school that took meat off its school lunch menu.”

“I would be very happy for my children to have one plant-based meal a day at school, as it will not only reduce their and the school’s carbon footprint, but also has many health benefits as well, whilst encouraging them to try new flavours and plant-based foods.”

Proponents of a plant-based diet argue that the meat and dairy industries are significant contributors to greenhouse gas emissions, and reducing consumption of animal products could help curb climate change. Additionally, plant-based diets are often more sustainable and environmentally friendly, as they require fewer resources and generate less waste. Many argue too that at the least schools should be providing one day a week in week meals are vegetarian. One parent said to us:

“The day we will all be eating vegetarian food is coming anyway. You cannot tell the difference in many cases, there is not enough meat in the world already to feed the world’s population – and the damage caused by the meat industry to the environment is unarguable. I just cannot understand why school’s don’t act.”

Providing well-balanced vegan meals is also one of the best things a school can do for the health of its developing students said Jason Baker, the Senior Vice President of animal-rights charity PETA Asia, in an exclusive interview with SchoolsCompared:

“Meat, dairy, and eggs are known contributors to heart disease, obesity, cancer, diabetes, and other common life-threatening ailments. Plant-based foods, on the other hand, are free from any dietary cholesterol.”

“Animal agriculture is the leading cause of greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to climate change, and it uses massive amounts of valuable resources such as food, land, and water that could be used to help feed the millions of people in the world who don’t have enough to eat.”

“By putting together a healthy and sustainable vegan menu to nourish its students, a school not only fulfills the requirement for healthier cafeteria fare but also takes a stand against the cruelty inherent in the meat, dairy, and egg industries and helps fight climate change—which will set a positive, compassionate example for its students and society at large.”

UAE-based children and teens also seem to concur that plant-based is a good way forward: a White Paper reflecting the views of 1,595 young people in the UAE, published in 2020 by Emirates Nature WWF, found that 99% of them agree that ‘sustainable diets and nature-friendly food production should be a priority’, and 89% are ‘willing to include alternative protein in their diets’.

However, opponents argue that plant-based diets may not be practical or feasible for all students, particularly those with dietary restrictions or preferences. Additionally, they argue that reducing meat consumption alone is not sufficient to combat the climate crisis and that a broader range of actions, such as reducing energy consumption and promoting renewable energy, are necessary.

Mark Atkins, Principal of Durham School Dubai, also points out that personal freedoms would be a risk if educational institutions were to switch to a meat-free lifestyle:

“Banning meat is simply not practical and it removes the element of freedom of choice, a British value. We need to present children and parents with the facts about meat farming and sustainability, in this way we get ‘buy in’ and support not stubborn resistance.”

Jordana Ventzke, founder of JV Nutrition, also warns that not all plant-based foods are as healthy or even as environmentally friendly as they might seem:

“It is important to note that the production of meat alternatives is more taxing on the environment and impacts the toxic load on the body. Most meat alternatives we have on the market have anywhere upwards of 10 ingredients, most of which the laymen wouldn’t recognise.”

“Vegan/vegetarian processed products are often very high in seed oils which can negatively affect our health.”

“Making a school meat-free requires a huge amount of planning. There would need to be a lot of education done to ensure parents know what nutrients they should be focusing on and ensuring that meals are balanced providing enough protein and fats. This ensures proper glucose control throughout that day, avoiding major highs and lows which affect concentration. If schools or parents did decide to go this route, I would advise them to get educated to make meals balanced.”

What do you think? Freedom of choice or doing the right thing for our planet? Is it time to start seriously considering plant-based lifestyles in schools?

You decide.

Read our full story IS IT TIME UAE SCHOOLS TAKE MEAT OFF THE MENU TO HELP THE PLANET? here.

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