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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Composition nutritionnelle des plats complets végétariens et non-végétariens proposés en restauration scolaire : une étude du collectif EnScol

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Context: In France, since 1 November 2019, all school restaurants are required to offer a vegetarian menu at least once a week. This study was initiated and co-developed by researchers and school catering professionals from the « EnScol » team.Aim: To assess the nutritional content of vegetarian dishes served in school meals in France.Methods: The nutritional content of main dishes (i.e. the combination of protein dish and side dish) was studied and compared according to whether the dishes were vegetarian (n=315) or non-vegetarian (n=669). Within the vegetarian main dishes, three categories were defined and compared: dishes without any ingredient of animal origin, dishes with cheese, and dishes containing eggs and/or dairy products other than cheese.Results: The main dishes, whether vegetarian or non-vegetarian, show adequate levels of all beneficial nutrients, with the exception of omega-3 fatty acids (alpha-linolenic acid-ALA and docosahexaenoic acid-DHA) and vitamin D, and (for non-vegetarian dishes only) calcium. The three categories of vegetarian main dishes have adequate levels of several beneficial nutrients (fibre, vitamins A, B1, B3, B6, B9, E, iron, magnesium, copper, iodine, selenium). However, each category displays its own nutritional characteristics:- dishes without any ingredient of animal origin contain a lot of fibre and few saturated fatty acids (SFA), but they are low in vitamins B2 and B12 and calcium, and are totally lacking vitamin D and DHA. They contain a lot of iron, but it is non-heme iron that is less absorbed than heme iron of animal origin.- vegetarian dishes with cheese contain the highest content of calcium, but they have more SFA than the other two categories.- vegetarian dishes containing eggs and/or dairy products other than cheese display, for most beneficial nutrients, intermediate levels between the two previous categories. They appear to be a good compromise as they provide the essential nutrients associated with eggs and fresh dairy products without providing the potentially high levels of SFA and sodium associated with cheese when it is present in too high amounts.Conclusion: It is necessary to ensure a balance between unrefined plant-based ingredients (vegetables, pulses, whole grains, etc.) and animal-based ingredients (eggs and dairy products) in appropriate quantities when preparing vegetarian dishes for school meals.