NYC TESTS VEGETARIAN-ONLY SCHOOL LUNCHES

B’klyn schools test ‘Meatless Mondays’

Goodbye, hot dogs. Hello, hummus.

Hoping to wean city kids off meat, the Department of Education is introducing a once-aweek, vegetarian-only breakfast and lunch menu at 15 Brooklyn schools next spring, officials said.

Dubbed “Meatless Mondays,” the plant-based program could quickly expand to other days and boroughs if kids start to embrace their inner herbivores, Mayor de Blasio said.

While acknowledging that he still battles his own meaty manias, de Blasio noted that both of his kids are committed vegetarians and that he has considered a conversion.

“Even if you had a bacon, egg and cheese this morning, you still should want to see more and more of our diets go to a plant-based approach,” the mayor said Monday. “It’s good for everyone, and this is about recognizing our own health and the health of the planet.”

In lieu of burgers, dogs and deli meats, Monday lunches at the select schools will feature vegetarian-friendly selections including spinach wraps, vegetarian chili, zucchini parmigiana and crispy tofu.

For more adventurous gradeschool gourmands, the DOE will also offer a roasted chickpea tagine.

In solidarity with the new initiative, de Blasio revealed that he will join in the Monday burger ban at Gracie Mansion.

The announcement was made at PS 1 in Brooklyn, which already serves completely plantbased meals every day of the week. Four other borough schools have followed suit.

PS 1 third-grader Andy Salas said students united to call for the menu transformation.

“As a school, we decided on an all-vegetarian lunch menu,” Andy said before introducing de Blasio. “This has been a really fun experience. I think lunch is great. And this makes our school unique. I definitely think more schools should try this.”

Students raved about items they may not have even heard of a few years ago, including hummus and tofu.

Borough President Eric Adams — who was forced to overhaul his eating habits after being diagnosed with diabetes — said nutrition can no longer be ignored, especially in low-income communities.

“They believe that eating healthy is too expensive,” Adams said. “In some communities they think that’s a white-person thing.”

But it won’t be all diet-friendly quinoa and kale at participating schools.

While there won’t be a sloppy joe in sight, students on Mondays will still chow down on carb-laden classics like fried potato wedges and bagels with melted cheese.

Asked if he thinks he could become completely vegetarian for life, one PS 1 third-grader paused.

“I like hamburgers,” he said. “Can I have one just once in awhile and still do it?”