Girls’ school to check health of vegan students

A GIRLS’ school has started to offer blood tests to its vegan students in order to check that their diet is meeting their “nutritional requirements”.

Cheltenham Ladies’ College, whose alumni include Amber Rudd, the former home secretary, has said that it “does not actively encourage a vegan lifestyle” among its pupils.

The school of 850 pupils, which charges £12,780 per term for its boarders, has 10 different kitchens operated by 85 catering staff.

“Where girls do choose to pursue a vegan lifestyle, we offer medical support and regular blood testing in order to ensure that they remain healthy and that their diet is providing them with all their nutritional requirements,” the school told The Times.

“We are open and honest with girls and parents in explaining the limits of what we can offer in this regard.”

Cheltenham Ladies’ Coll ege has never offered a vegan menu to its students, although its website says that chefs cater for “vegetarian, Halal, gluten free, lactose free, nut free or any food intolerance diets”.

All houses at the school have the same menu. A “house choice” evening allows the students to decide what they would like to see on the menu once a week.

Cheltenham Ladies’ College has publicly voiced its opposition to the glamorisation of “ideal body shapes” through social media sites and glossy magazines in relation to nutritional matters.

Beat, the eating disorder charity, has said that there is “very little research” that focuses on the relationship between eating disorders and veganism, although a vegan diet is often used as a “recovery tool” for those being treated for disordered eating.

Around 1.2 per cent of the population follows a vegan diet, according to figures f rom the Vegan Society, which has dismissed the idea of any link between veganism and eating disorders.

Cheltenham Ladies’ College was contacted by this newspaper for comment.