A nursery in Chester has come under fire for introducing a 100% vegan menu, becoming the first in Britain to do so.

Parents who send their kids to the nursery expressed their concerns online following the controversial move to switch the kids to an entirely plant-based diet.

The meat-loving parents claim that the nursery had introduced the menu without consulting them first.

The nursery’s new menu will no longer contain any meat, fish, eggs or any dairy products.

Instead, the 260 pupils, aged 0-4, will be offered “lentil, mushroom and mixed seasonal vegetable Shepherd’s Pie” and “plant-based ice-cream.”

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Some parents are angry and believe that the decision to “impose a lifestyle choice discriminates” against their meat-eating children.

While some parents are fuming over the other parents are “absolutely thrilled” with the move the Jigsaw Day Nurseries has made.

One mum, who has a three-year-old daughter at Jigsaw Curzon House Nursery told the Mirror, “It’s just bonkers.

"Just to enforce it on us without any say isn't right – they shouldn't be making these decisions on my behalf.

"If my daughter wants to be a vegan when she's older then that's fine but I'll have that conversation with her myself.

"There's obviously no cheese, which my daughter loves, and no meat or the goodness from fish.”

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Another parent, who did not want to be named, told the Mirror that eating meat was the natural state of affairs for his toddler.

“To impose a lifestyle choice on these children before they can make their own mind up is plain wrong," he fumed.

"If anything it discriminates against those kids who enjoy a diet of meat and fish.

“To ban them from eating meat is outrageous.

“It’s simply not their decision to make.

"I like to think I cook healthy and nutritious meals for my children which include meat and vegetables.

"My son has a big appetite as well, I think he'll come home starving.

“To go veggie is one thing, but to go full-on vegan is just madness."

However other parents welcome the new move on social media and suggested that all nurseries should follow suit.

Natalie Stevens wrote on Facebook: "It's like saying you don't want your children to be educated in what will save our planet.

"Vegan or not, this is an incredibly healthy-sounding menu and I am thrilled our son will be eating this kind of food.

"If anything, it takes the pressure off having to feed him uber-healthy food at home because I know he'll have had a wholesome and nutritious meal at nursery.

"If Jigsaw loses a few customers due to this change they will only gain more from new, interested and like-minded parents, so it's not a business risk at all."

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Rebecca Louise Cusato added: "If parents want their children to eat meat they can at home for dinner.

"We are not supposed to consume meat in every meal as humans anyway.

"It's an economically friendly diet, that involves no animal abuse or unsustainable sources.

"I just think some people need to be more educated on the word vegan and what unsustainable sources are doing to the environment.”

Jigsaw Nurseries have been reached for a comment.

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