"We try to teach children to respect all life"

Institutionalized meals pose some of the most awkward situations for vegetarians and vegans.

Banquet dinners, cafeteria lunches and wedding receptions can be tricky for adults to navigate. But it's getting easier and easier for vegetarian children to eat at summer camps.

"In the past five to 10 years, there has been a real shift for more nutritional food provided at camps," said Jeff Solomon, the spokesman for the National Camp Association.

More camps are offering salad bars and flexible dining options, he said.

While it's easier to find vegetarian options, it's still challenging to find a completely vegetarian camp environment.

Kids Make a Difference, a Los Angeles-based program, offers day camps and overnight camps for children interested in environmental issues. The camp also serves vegan meals exclusively.

"Every child who comes to camp doesn't have to question whether the food is vegan," camp director Andy Mars said. The camp attracts children who are vegan and children who typically eat meat at home, but Mars said none of the campers have complained about eating vegan.

In addition to hiking, swimming and other activities, campers assist in meal preparation. They roll their own sushi and heat up vegan franks and beans over campfires.

Because the campers are involved in meal preparation, they're more likely to try and enjoy new foods, Mars said. And peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are always available for the unadventurous.

The camp's capacity is 12 campers — that way everyone will fit in the eco-conscious van the camp uses, Mars said.

In 12 years, Mars said, he has had one complaint about camp food, and it was from a parent who was shocked when her camper came home and wanted to become vegetarian.

Mars chose to serve vegan food at camp programs because it's healthy and it follows the environmental and ecological goals of the camp.

"We try to teach children to respect all life," Mars said.

Other vegetarian friendly camps:
American Camp Association: www.acacamps.org
National Camp Association Inc.: www.summercamp.org
Camp-finding service: www.campfinders.com
Kids Make a Difference camps: www.kidsla.org

By Liz Kohman
Gannett News Service
Camps embrace veggie option-Poughkeepsie Journal