Sooo much pooping

[Cinnamon]

My youngest,who is 15,has gone to paris on a school trip for a long weekend.

When we paid,we were asked if there were wny dietary requirements as all food is included - Cleo is veggie,so this was added to her form. They are staying on a full board basis.

 

They are staying at FIAP which is a hostel of some sort,& last night the only veggie option was a bowl of mixed green salad

She spoke to her teacher,who has told her & her veggie friend that they will need to go to the Supermarket down the road & buy their own food WITH THEIR OWN MONEY if they want veggie meals!

 

Now,Cleo only has a smallish amount of spending money,so why on earth should she spend it on meals which we have paid for already???

What if she was Kosher,or had a nut allergy?

 

I have just had a text from her to say that she had a small breakfast,but wasn't hopeful about supper tonight.

[Olly]

That's appalling - a lot of people, and particularly teenagers, are vegetarian these days, I know that in France it's often regarded as a bit odd but if they are catering for young people they should be prepared to provide alternatives, and as you say, she could want kosher, halal, or gluten-free or something.

 

I would DEFINITELY complain to the school. The teachers should supply food if it's not provided by the accommodation. I hope it isn't spoiling the trip for her too much.

[Cinnamon]

Just had another text from her,which does clear things up a bit.

 

there was a veggie hot dish of some sort last night,but the staff were using the same spoon to serve it as they were using in the meat dish.

 

I am not a veggie,but that is really not on,is it?

 

I have told her to look out for snack places or a sandwich bar

[sadietoo]

I'm sorry to hear the trouble your daughter is experiencing, but the French really don't do vegetarianism very well at all, so I'm not really surprised. Even if you do get a veggie option it's omelette one day and if you are lucky a meatless quiche the next. It is doubly frustrating when you have paid for food on a full board basis. It's not even as though the French do vegetables in any big way so that she could fill up on them. I imagine your daughter will also find it very difficult to find any ready made/ready to eat vegetarian choices in the supermarket, but at least a member of staff could lend her some money to go and get some food instead of shrugging their shoulders and washing their hands of it. The problem is that many still feel vegetarianism is an irritating quirk that someone has adopted just to be difficult. If as you say she claimed she had to have a special diet for reasons of her religion she would get treated better, at least by the supervising staff. Perhaps she needs to say she is Buddhist in future??

[Olly]

Using a 'meat' spoon to serve a veggie dish is NOT on. It sounds as if the staff aren't taking it seriously, either.

 

I'm not a veggie any more, but when I was, I lost count of the times people would say 'yes, but you eat chicken, don't you', or cook roast potatoes in lard, or think that it was ok to use the same frying pan for my eggs as they'd used for the bacon.

[Cinnamon]

Buddhist.....Maybe!

 

The thing is,its a hostel specifically for teens,so they should be able to cater for her.

If the school had told us that this would be a problem then we may have thought twice about her going,or at least stocked her up on cereal bars & other munchies.

 

Her best pal is Vegan......I am not even thinking about how she is coping!

[Chucky Mama]

Gosh that is a shocker Why ask to be told about food requirements if they aren't going to do anything about it. If they have not made proper provisions your daughter really shouldn't be expected to cover the cost. A member of staff should have a word with the catering staff to ensure that she is catered for. I dread to think how the vegan will cope You have paid for her to receive a vegetarian meal and that is what she should get.

[Couperwife]

do you have a phone number to contact a teacher?

 

ask the teacher to serve the vege food first and then the meat 2nd - or go to the "french" staff and explain that she is allergic and will be very poorly if she had meat.

 

the last thing you need is your daughter to come home poorly through not enough food.

 

this isnt right at all - i work in a school and we wouldnt let this happen on a trip (every child matters and all!! )

 

cathy

x

[docsquid]

I can only echo what has been said about the French not doing vegetarian - they don't even understand it when you explain in French that somebody doesn't eat meat - they simply serve up the normal meal and tell you to leave the bits you don't want. When in hospital in France a few years ago, I ended up acting as translator for lots of injured English skiers, and I simply couldn't make them understand that one lady was vegetarian.

 

We are very lucky in this country that vegetarian is well-recognised and catered-for in many restaurants and hotels now - it wasn't the case when I used to be a veggie, but it is much better now, and I often eat the veggie option while out.

 

I think the school need to take responsibility for ensuring that all their pupils' needs are met, and that includes ensuring that vegetarian food is acceptable in quantity, and quality, and in the way it is served.

[greyhoundgirl]

I'm a teacher and this is disgusting! I'd be asking for my money back when they return.

I now work in Early Years and there is a section on our 'curriculum' entitled 'The Unique Child'. If this can be applied to 2-4 years olds, where every child is valued for their contribution to society, why is it when children get to secondary school it doesn't seem to be the case? They just have to 'fit in' otherwise they seem to be classed as difficult? GRRRRRR!

 

I can't blame the French for this. The school should be responsible and they are acting in a negligent manner. I'd also question them on their Safeguarding Children Policy. They have a responsibility to look after your child and from where I'm sitting it doesn't seem as though they are.

 

 

Good luck and I hope your daughter enjoys at least some of her trip.

 

 

There feel better getting that off my chest!

[Cinnamon]

Am waiting for a text to tell me if she has eaten tonight & what it was.

I am also waiting to hear about her lunchtime packed lunch......

 

Happily her dad told me he slipped her an extra £20 when he took her to the school to go on the trip,for emergencies,so at least she has some money if she sees a Subway!

 

I will most certainly be taking it all up with the school upon her return

[greyhoundgirl]

Good for you. I'm pretty sure that this trip cost a fair amount in the first place and you are having to pay again for food you have already paid for. 20 years ago I can understand people thing vegetanianism (*sp) was unusual but not now. Not good enough.

[Cinnamon]

Well,she got pizza tonight, so goes to bed with a full tum

[chelsea]

 

there was a veggie hot dish of some sort last night,but the staff were using the same spoon to serve it as they were using in the meat dish.

 

I am not a veggie,but that is really not on,is it?

 

 

Definitely not!

 

Am glad she sorted now with some food.