Campaign Calls for Better-Tasting Plant-Based Meals in Taiwanese Schools

Taiwanese legislators and civil society organizations are advocating for better-tasting plant-based meals in schools through the "Back to School: Give Students Delicious Low-Carbon Plant-Based Meals —‘School Veggie Day 2.0’ with More Diverse Plant Proteins" campaign. The initiative follows the passing of a climate bill mandating the promotion of low-carbon diets, with plant-based foods highlighted. However, the School Veggie Days program has faced challenges with poorly designed menus, unappealing foods, and excessive food waste, necessitating systemic reforms to make plant-based food more appealing to children.

At a recent press conference, Legislator Liu Shu-Bin proposed three solutions for School Veggie Day 2.0: serving a wider range of plant proteins, collaborating to design student-friendly meals, and integrating food education with climate awareness. Suggestions were made to include more plant-based protein options like plant-based meats and vegetarian protein crumbles, as well as offering plant-based milk alternatives such as soy milk, sesame milk, and barley milk in school lunches. The goal is to increase participation in School Veggie Days from under 50% to over 90%, showcasing the growing focus on sustainable and plant-based diets in Taiwan.