Blagnac, France – July 7, 2023 – Children participating in Blagnac’s leisure centers adn Alsh programs are now enjoying a new menu option: meat-free meals. This initiative, launched at the start of the school holidays, complements the existing traditional menu, offering parents a choice during registration for leisure and school catering activities. The city’s catering control room has extended this option to all recipients of its prepared meals.
Mayor Joseph Carles emphasized the importance of ensuring every child receives a balanced daily meal, aiming to increase canteen participation. “We observed a tendency for meat consumption to decrease, and there’s a real expectation and demand for alternatives,” Carles stated. “The Régie has organized to meet this demand, and it’s now in effect.”
The new meals are ovopescovegetarian, meaning they include eggs and fish but are not vegan. Each meal is balanced and verified by a dietician, incorporating alternative protein sources such as fish, eggs, and vegetables.
Initial feedback has been highly positive. The trial run at leisure centers has already shown a 10-15% increase in meal consumption compared to last year. Projections for the school year anticipate a critically important 30% rise in canteen meals taken. Families will have the adaptability to choose their child’s meal upon registration, with the option to change their selection onc during the academic year. “I want to remind everyone that in Blagnac, providing excellent school catering is a cultural and identity-driven priority,” Carles added.
these alternative meal options are not expected to generate cost savings,as the cost of food is not the primary driver of meal production expenses. The cost to families ranges from €0.65 to €3.65, depending on their financial quotient, with the overall meal cost at €12. During the school year, the Régie, which employs 23 staff members, prepares an average of 2,500 meals daily. Notably,40% of the food used is sourced from the Occitanie region. In adherence to the Egalim law, the catering service already provides a vegetarian meal option for children each week.
