During the current controversy over the new meatless menus in Lyon canteens, a question has surfaced. Is it really necessary to eat meat, especially on the side of children? Opinions are divided, but there is scientific consensus that children can grow and stay healthy without eating meat.
Currently in France, a controversy divides citizens . In the city of Lyon (Rhône), the authorities have decided to introduce a single meatless menu in canteens from February 22, 2021, at least until the Easter holidays. Many political figures reacted, including the Minister of Agriculture Julien Denormandie. In a February 21, 2021 tweet, he said we need to give kids "what they need to grow well." The meat is one of them" .
An article published by Le Monde on February 27, however, relayed the words of Benjamin Allès, researcher in nutritional epidemiology at the University of Paris-XIII. The latter explained that offering meals without meat at noon to a child poses no problem of nutritional balance. According to him, the child will certainly consume other animal products at other times.
Let's remember that current debates must deal with various issues such as the economy, the environment or food traditions. Let's also mention the presence of a multitude of vegetable diets making things quite complicated. This ranges from pesco-vegetarianism (no meat only) to veganism (no animal products) to lacto-vegetarianism excluding meat and eggs, but including milk and its derivatives. The fact is that the different diets do not have the same impacts on the body . Indeed, each category of food provides a varied amount of nutrients that children need for their growth and adults for the proper functioning of their organism.
As far as Lyon's new canteen regime is concerned, the risks are low. However, meals should remain balanced. You should know that the nutrients, including proteins, that meat provides are also found in other foods such as fish, dairy products, cereals and other vegetables/legumes. These pesco-vegetarian meals are also validated by the National Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health Safety (Anses). The agency had concluded at the beginning of 2020 that it was unlikely that this change could lead to deficiencies in children.
