At ProVeg UK, our mission is to transform the global food system. One way we’re doing this is by helping school caterers to create more sustainable menus.

‘Meat-Free Mondays’ are a common initiative in many schools, promoting healthier diets and reduced food emissions. But what if there was a way to make this initiative even more impactful?

Through our work with thousands of UK schools, we’ve found a much better alternative: ‘Planet-Friendly Days’. By shifting away from the term ‘meat-free’ (which can suggest there is something ‘lacking’ from a menu), we can shed a spotlight on plant-based meals in a far more positive way.

If you are a school caterer and want to increase the uptake of plant-based meals, we recommend adopting a ‘Planet-Themed Day’ once or twice a week. It’s important to switch up which days these fall on too, helping to normalise sustainable eating as an everyday practice.

Meat-free Mondays vs. Planet-Themed Days

Planet-Themed Days are an engaging way to educate children about the connection between dietary choices and the health of our planet. Activities such as poster-designing contests and plant-based cooking classes can help to provide a fun learning experience about our food systems, and encourage children to try new dishes at lunchtime. Some menu suggestions for your Planet-Themed Day include:

• Climate-friendly chickpea & potato curry with flatbread
• Planet-friendly Burger (veggie burger) with sweet potato wedges & BBQ sauce
• Planet Pie (plant-based shepherd’s pie) with seasonal vegetables

Though it may seem like a minor shift, this approach has the potential to significantly change perceptions of plant-based meals. We’ve seen an increase in uptake of plant-based and vegetarian school dinners through making this simple shift, and our catering partners have reported more positive feedback from parents and children after rebranding their Meat-free Mondays.

The evolution from Meat-Free Mondays to Planet-Friendly Days represents a strategic shift towards a more sustainable and impactful approach to food education. While the changes may seem minor, they hold the potential to transform children’s perception of plant-based dishes significantly. 

Through our School Plates programme, we can provide schools with free menu consultation, nutrition advice, recipe development and plant-based cookery training to help make Planet-Friendly Days even more successful. To find out more about how we can help, send us an email at [email protected].