The anon 04 graduate alleged:
?Most meals contain at least one or more deep fried dishes and a miniscule selection of food not containing meat.?
Lynn refuted:
?while a lot of the meals contain a fried selection, it is not the only choice, ever and there is always a vegetarian selection along with a nicely stocked salad bar... noted, there are usually a few more carbs then those who do the atkins thing would like.?
Let?s analyze. Keeping in mind, ?was the grad lying??:
Given that this week of sample menus is still representative of what is served:
L- Turkey soup, Spinach & Pasta Salad, Grilled Cheese, Chop Suey, Rice, Carrots
D- Pork Loin, Dressing & Gravy, Roasted potatoes, Green Beans, PB&J
L- Chicken soup, Caesar salad, Chicken salad, Hot dog, Chili, Nachos, Vegetable blend
D- Fried drumsticks, Gravy, Mashed Potatoes, Fried fish, Corn
L- Minestrone, Waldorf & Potato salad, Pizza, Riblet sandwich, Potato chips, Green beans
D-Hamburger, Veggie burger, Chicken nuggets, French fries
L-Tomato soup, Tuna salad, Egg salad, BBQ pork sandwich, Manicotti, Tater tots, Peas
D- Turkey, Dressing, Baked fish, Mashed potatoes, Sauteed Veggies
L- Onion soup, Greek Salad, Pastrami, Tacos, Bean burritos, Rice, Corn
D- Italian subs, Stromboli, Beans, French fries, French bread
L- Chicken and Dumplings, Chicken Casear, Ham salad, Chicken breast, Mac and cheese, Peas
D- Seafood, Poorboy sandwich, Roasted potatoes, Peas
L-Mushroom soup, Tossed salad, Salami, Turkey wrap, Shepherds pie, Potato chips, Squash
D- Grilled Ham, Rice, Peas & carrots, Dinner roll
PB&J always available at lunch and dinner.
Now, for the vegetarian who eats eggs and dairy:
On Monday-lunch options are: Spinach and/or Pasta (bread) salad, The infamous Cheese sandwich (cheese and bread), Rice and Carrots.
For dinner: PB&J, Roasted potatoes, and Green beans.
On Tuesday-lunch options are: Caesar salad, Nachos (cheese and bread), and Vegetable blend
For dinner: PB&J, Mashed potatoes, and Corn
On Wednesday-lunch options are: Minestrone (if no meat stock), Waldorf and/or Potato salads, Pizza (cheese and bread), Potato chips (fried), and Green beans
For dinner: Veggie burger, French fries (fried), or PB&J
On Thurday-lunch options are: Tomato soup, Egg salad, Manicotti (cheese and bread), Tater tots (fried), and Peas.
For dinner: PB&J, Mashed potatoes, Sauteed Veggies
On Friday-lunch options are: Onion soup (if no meat stock), Greek salad, Bean burrito, Rice, Corn
The most balance vegetarian meal offer so far.
For dinner: Stromboli-if it is vegetarian (cheese and bread), Beans, French fries (fried) or PB&J
On Saturday-lunch options are: Mac and Cheese (cheese and bread), Peas, and/or PB&J
For dinner: PB&J, Roasted potatoes, Peas
On Sunday-lunch options are: Mushroom soup, Tossed salad, Potato chips (fried), Squash
For dinner: PB&J, Rice, Peas and carrots
I was a vegetarian for a number of years and consulted with a dietician. I can tell you that this is not adequate to maintain health. Being a vegetarian entails much more than just avoiding meat. It is crucial to consume adequate amino acids (building blocks of protein) and B12, which would consist of whole grains and beans/legumes, supplemented by nuts/seeds and OCCASIONALLY cheese (preferably as a condiment, not the entree), as well as a wide variety of vegetable proteins. This sample does not provide the necessary components of a healthy vegetarian diet. While any one of them might be okay if one was stuck away from home and unable to get anything else, it would not be considered ?healthy? by an educated vegetarian or a dietician, for any extended period. It?s way too heavy on cheese, bread/white rice/potatoes (refined carbs), and pb&j.
In 5 of 7 dinners the only veg entrée option was pb&j. Served with potatoes/green beans, potatoes/corn, potatoes/veggies, potatoes/peas, or rice/peas&carrots. Yulk!!! I?d be complaining too. Might even decide to give up being a vegetarian.
6 of the 14 meals, the main entrée was bread and cheese.
A ?FEW? more carbs?
12 of the 14 meals were hi carb, in my opinion.
All 14 contained potatoes, bread, and/or rice.
In 5 of the 14 meals one, of the few veg options, was fried.
And to touch on breakfast- The most vegetarian options were available at breakfast, provided that eggs were acceptable. Potatoes served every breakfast- all fried by the way.
Based on this survey, I?d say the grad?s complaints are valid. She didn't lie, or exaggerate for that matter. You?d be wise to consult with a dietician and/or warn parents that you are not capable of providing a healthy, balanced vegetarian fare to their child.