MUSE School in Calabasas Highlands, Monday, November 11, 2011. (Credit Image: Dean Musgrove/Los Angeles Daily News/ZUMAPRESS.com)

A former primary school teacher has applauded the first vegan school in the US.

Sean O’Callaghan, who goes by the alias Fat Gay Vegan when writing, says MUSE School in California should set an example for all schools to make their menus 100% plant-based.

The school in Calabasas was founded by Suzy Amis, the wife of Avatar director James Cameron, and has been making the gradual transition to all-vegan food since June 2014.

The Hollywood couple became committed vegans after watching health documentary Forks Over Knives in 2012. Soon after, Amis announced plans to veganise her school.


MORE: Director James Cameron’s wife opened first all-vegan school as he filmed Avatar



November 2015 celebrates two months of a 100% plant-based menu for all its pupils, from elementary to high school ages (3-18).

Amis has said: ‘[You cannot] call yourself an environmentalist if you’re still consuming animals’.

Sean O’Callaghan goes further in saying that as well as teaching children about true sustainability, an all-vegan school fosters development of compassion in children, ensures inclusiveness and optimises health.

He says:

(Picture: Sean O’Callaghan)

‘As news breaks about a school in the US transforming its food offerings for students into a completely vegan menu, the typical and predictable chorus of disapproval erupts from the usual naysayers.

‘Arguments of students having beliefs forced on them, warnings of a plant-based diet not having enough nutrients and even cries of parents being stripped of their decision-making powers have been some of the reactions to the news out of MUSE School in California.

‘Throw in the inevitable press releases put out by meat and dairy lobbyists on the back of this news and you can start to see the pressure the school administration would be under this week.

‘With so many dissenting voices rallying against the school’s decision, I opted to stand up with my top three reasons why I think all schools should take example from MUSE and transform their canteens into 100% vegan affairs.

What does the ASA think? ‘It is the position of the American Dietetic Association that appropriately planned vegetarian diets, including total vegetarian or vegan diets, are healthful, nutritionally adequate, and may provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases. ‘Well-planned vegetarian diets are appropriate for individuals during all stages of the life cycle, including pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood, and adolescence, and for athletes.’

Compassion

(Picture: erizof / Flickr)

‘As an ex-school teacher, I know how ingrained ideas of compassion and empathy are in curriculum and learning.

‘Children of all ages and in all settings are constantly asked to consider how their actions affect those around them.

‘Why not take this approach and apply it to the food the children are served every single day?

‘Young people want to have their eyes opened to how the world works and connecting food choices with how animals are treated is the perfection opportunity for extending lessons on treating others with kindness.’

Inclusiveness

Picture: Richard Stephenson / Flickr

‘I don’t think many people want young children to feel excluded in their school environment.

‘Serving a plant-based menu is the perfect and simplest way to ensure all students are included during meal services.

‘Take meat, dairy and eggs from a menu and the food is instantly more suitable for the majority of the cohort.

‘A clever kitchen manager can ensure nobody is excluded based on dietary choices, religious observance or ingredient sensitivity simply by employing a thoughtful vegan menu.’

Health

Picture: Jon Grainger / Flickr

‘This is not the part where I talk about weight or calories; I’ll leave that to another writer concerned with such things.



‘I want people to realise vegan cooking is one of the least risky ways of preparing food for human consumption.

‘The meat industry is plagued with hygiene and cross-contamination scandals. Revelations of superbugs and food-borne diseases are reported with alarming frequency so it would appear the best option to remove these risks where school children are concerned.

‘When a growing child can be nourished perfectly well on a plant-based diet, why take the risk feeding them foods more likely to harbour parasites and germs?

‘Changing a school canteen into a completely vegan set-up is not stripping away the rights of parents and carers. Individual families have the right to feed their children anything they deem fit in the privacy of their own homes or on family outings.

‘What a vegan school does do is create a safer space for children where they will learn compassion, grow stronger, and be respected without fear of being excluded based on personal choice, religious practice or allergy considerations.

‘When you consider all of the above, the decision taken recently by MUSE School makes it sound like the kind of learning establishment every child deserves to attend.’

The nutritionist's opinion Shona Wilkinson, who is a registered nutritional therapist, senior associate of the Royal Society of Medicine and head nutritionist at nutricentre.com, says MUSE needs to ensure it serves children adequate amounts of Vitamin B12 and protein – something that can be challenge with a vegan diet. ‘Contrary to most other B vitamins, B12 tends to be very low in plant foods,’ she says. ‘Only specific fortified foods provide enough B12 to meet the needs of a vegan diet, such as cereals (avoiding those with added sugar) and fortified oat milk, coconut milk and almond milk. Chlorella and spirulina provide good additional support of vitamin B12. ‘MUSE will also need to take care to make sure the children have enough protein in their diet for healthy growth. The average person needs about 0.8 to 1g of protein per kg of ideal body weight [meaning 10g for a three-year-old weighing 13kg, or 48g for an 18-year-old weighing 60kg]. ‘Protein is found in the highest concentration in animal foods. An average serving of chicken breast can contain around 25 to 30g of protein, a fillet of cod around 20g and two eggs around 12 to 16g. In plant foods, a serving of brown rice provides around 6g of protein, 100g of quinoa around 14g and 100g of cooked lentils around 9g. ‘MUSE may want consider nutrient supplementation. If parents have any concerns, they can speak to a nutritionist and get advice on whether their child needs it. ‘It’s not only animal diets that come with food poisoning risks – there are risks associated with food poisoning with vegan food sources too. For example, one of the most common causes of food poisoning is from rice being poorly prepared. ‘Different types of food poisoning come from different food sources. Bacillus cereus food poisoning can come from rice and cereals. The school would need to follow the same strict hygiene practices as any other school. ‘Most diets that restrict certain food groups usually result in weight loss. It is worth bearing in mind through that you can still have a child eating an unhealthy vegan diet – such as chips all day.’

Read Sean’s blog here.

MORE: 7 reasons why you should go vegan today

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