Not a burger in sight, NYC school goes all vegetarian

NEW YORK, May 2 (UPI) -- A New York City school no longer serves chicken nuggets or mystery meat for lunch anymore; it has gone vegetarian for breakfast and lunch, officials say.

Public School 244, an elementary school in Flushing, is the first public school in the United States to serve all-vegetarian meals swapping chicken, turkey and ham for black beans, tofu and falafel; and the children are giving it a "thumbs up," the New York Daily News reported.

"This is so good!" a 9-year-old girl told the News.

The public school partnered with the non-profit New York Coalition for Healthy School Food to design the vegetarian recipes such as:

Breakfast:

-- Whole-grain carrot bread with hot cereal choice.

-- Fluffy egg omelet with melted cheese in a New York-style bagel.

-- Waffles with warm syrup and mozzarella string cheese.

Lunch:

-- Black bean and cheddar quesadilla served with salsa, red roasted potatoes and broccoli.

-- Roasted organic tofu with cacciatore sauce, whole-grain pasta and roasted zucchini.

-- "Superhero" spinach wrap with cucumber salad.

-- Chickpea falafel in a soft wheat wrap with chopped romaine, fresh diced tomatoes and cucumber salad.

New York City public schools had a gradual cafeteria makeover since Mayor Michael Bloomberg took office.

City schools now serve only whole-grain breads and pastas and salad bars were installed in 1,000 schools, and they'll be a fixture at all 1,800 facilities by the end of the next academic year, Goldstein said.