Recent research by Linda McCartney Foods has found that 73% of parents would encourage their children to eat vegetarian meals at school, provided that the quality is high.
The study surveyed 2,000 parents of children aged between 4 and 16, also finding that 28% want their children to eat meat free meals at least twice a week. However 24% are still concerned about the low quality of ingredients in veggie meal options, and a whopping 80% of parents say that it’s important that vegetarian dishes are offered in a format that children already enjoy.
The data paints a clear picture of what parents value most in meals: nutrition (58%), taste and appeal (57%), variety (52%) and quality ingredients (49%). In a notable shift, just 7% of parents now say that having meat in a meal is a priority.
In response to the research, Linda McCartney Foods’ Marketing and Strategy Director, Rebecca Fairbank, said: “The growing interest in plant-based diets presents an opportunity for school caterers. However, for meat free options to succeed, children need to genuinely enjoy them and parents need to be confident that they’re made with tasty, nutritional and high-quality ingredients.”
This research follows news that the UK is buying less meat than ever before, alongside Poland’s decision to require all schools to provide at least one fully plant-based meal each week, as well as offer plant-based alternatives to meat and dairy on days that animal-based proteins are served.