PARENTS were left furious after a nursery banned meat and dairy and instead force children to eat from a completely vegan menu.

Mums and dads have blasted the controversial move to switch their kids to an entirely plant-based diet which they claim was done without consulting them first.

Meat, fish, eggs and dairy products will be completely off the menu from January for 260 children, aged 0-4, at Jigsaw Day Nurseries in Chester.
Instead, staff at their two nurseries will offer the likes of a lentil-based "Shepherdless Pie", coconut rice pudding desserts and cereal served with soy or oat milk.

PARENTS 'FUMING'

Some parents say they are fuming at the decision to "impose a lifestyle choice" which "discriminates" against their meat-eating children.

Childcare at the nursery, which is rated 'Good' by Ofsted, costs between £235 and £240 per week, or £48 to £49 a day, including meals and snacks.

Claire Taylor, founder of the nurseries, which is Chester's largest private childcare provider, defended the decision which she says was "made with the children and the planet's future in mind."

She added: "We appreciate that this is a decision that comes with a business risk associated, however we feel passionately that a sustainable path is the one we wish to follow for the benefit of our children's future.

"The food that the children eat within our nurseries not only has an impact on everyone in the setting but also on the health of our planet."

We appreciate that this is a decision that comes with a business risk associated, however we feel passionately that a sustainable path is the one we wish to follow for the benefit of our children's future

She said the company had worked closely with an experienced and fully-qualified nutritionist to create a "highly nutritious, varied and sustainable menu which meets all of the relevant guidelines for early years nutrition and diet for children under the age of five."

'FOOTPRINT TO CONSIDER'

Mrs Taylor added: "The change is far less drastic than it sounds.

"Our current menu is 40 per cent vegetarian and all the dishes on our new menu are existing dishes which have been adapted to make them plant-based.

"This means our children are fully familiar with the tastes, textures and flavours we are going to be feeding them which should ensure the transition is a smooth one."

She cited the "overwhelming" evidence published over the past few years highlighting the impact of animal farming on the planet.

With 260 children and 70 staff the two nurseries serve up to 1,300 lunches and 2,600 light snacks every week meaning they have a "significant food footprint to consider".

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

Mrs Taylor said an informal consultation process was carried out over several months which produced a very split response to the vegan menu plans.

She said accepting they may lose some business, they chose to forge ahead with the plans for the sake of the planet and the children's future.

One mum, who has a three-year-old daughter at Jigsaw Curzon House Nursery and wished to remain anonymous, said: "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.
"It's such a huge, drastic change and I'm not happy about it."

PARENTS 'SPLIT' OVER DECISION

Another parent, who also did not want to be named, added: "To impose a lifestyle choice on these children before they can make their own mind up is plain wrong.

"If anything it discriminates against those kids who enjoy a diet of meat and fish. To ban them from eating meat is outrageous. Its 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 have welcomed the move on social media and suggested all other nurseries should follow suit.

Mum 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."

It comes as children at The Swan School in Summertown, Oxford, were made to eat only vegetarian meals – with a strict ban on packed lunches.

One furious parent slammed the move by bosses at the school and claimed her daughter "came home hungry" after the academy opened on Monday.

The new secondary has a completely vegetarian canteen and pupils have no alternative but to eat the hot meal on offer.

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