High schools add vegan, vegetarian entrees to cafeteria menus

This school year, Burke County high school students are enjoying more choices during lunch with new plant-based menu items, giving vegetarians and vegans a wider selection of hot, daily options.

School officials say the addition is not connected to presentations by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. The inspiration for expanding the menu came from conferences and events attended by Daniel Wall, BCPS director of Child Nutrition.

Representatives of the Physicians Committee have twice come before the school board to expound on the dangers of meat.

In May 2023, the Physicians Committee requested that the district discontinue the Pig Rig, a gas smoker/cooker that occasionally provides an extra meat option at Burke schools. Roxanne Becker, a physician with the Physicians Committee, told board members that processed meats and meat from the Pig Rig jeopardize not only students’ physical health but also their cognitive abilities and academic potential.

Representatives from the DC-based nonprofit promoted plant-based foods six months ago with a presentation at a school board meeting, a mobile billboard, and a children’s cooking class. The organization offered a $4,000 grant to add two plant-based entrees in three school cafeterias for the 2024-25 school year.

The group never made the proposed $4,000 contribution, Wall said.

This year’s new vegan and vegetarian options are courtesy of Chartwells K12 is BCPS’ food service provider.

“The second week of school, we slowly started adding in those options,” Wall said.

At the Oct. 28 school board meeting, Cheyenne Cornelius, Chartwells’ resident district manager, highlighted the high school’s vegetarian menu in the quarterly report.

“During the course of the school year, we have launched new menu items,” Cornelius said.

The following options are available on the school district’s vegetarian menu:

• Plant-based buffalo chicken nuggets
• Morningstar veggie burgers
• Vegetarian chili made with Impossible beef
• Vegetarian spud bar

Next week, Chartwells will add tofu to the Revolution Noodle Bar.

“These meals are available every day,” Cornelius said. “They rotate, but there is always a hot vegetarian option.”

During a Nov. 6 Student Choice event hosted by Chartwells at Draughn High School, students sampled plant-based buffalo chicken nuggets and chicken bulgogi ramen. They were asked to vote for their favorite. Buffalo chicken nuggets won with 115 votes to chicken bulgogi ramen’s 68 votes.

“For now, we’re just doing these items in high schools because we felt high school students would be more responsive,” Wall said. “If it goes well, we will look at expanding it to other schools.”

According to Wall, there hasn’t been a large response to the meals. He said there are five to 10 total vegetarian meals consumed across the four high schools in Burke.

“We have seen a small participation amount; however, the students who primarily eat vegetarian meals have been very excited to see the new hot vegetarian options and look forward to the daily options,” Cornelius said at the Oct. 28 meeting.

“Our goal is to get the kids fed,” Wall said. “If we can reach a student that needs this option, we’re here to meet them in the middle.”