Vegetarian food has become the protagonist of the menu of the Paris Olympics, with only 1/3 of the meat being the main character, and the menu immediately aroused heated discussions as soon as it was announced.
Imagine athletes from all over the world fighting for an Olympic gold medal, only to find that when it's time to eat, there's no protein to replenish. It's not a joke, it's a true portrayal of the Paris Olympics. For the sake of health and the environment, the Paris Olympics decided to make vegetarianism a staple food for athletes. Isn't this a bit too "green"?
Paris, as the host country of this year's Summer Olympics, has already announced that it will host the Games as a "vegetarian Olympics." The decision to adopt a sustainable plant-based diet means that athletes will enjoy more "green" cuisine. As healthy as it sounds, it also confuses some: Is this still the Olympics?
Usain · Bolt, the Jamaica Lightning, claimed to have eaten 100 McDonald's chicken nuggets at the 2008 Olympics and won three gold medals. Today, the Paris Olympics banned chicken nuggets from the fast-food giant for health reasons. If Bolt had known the news, he might have wondered: Does this mean I have to switch to salad to win gold?
The organizers of the Olympic Village have adapted France's culinary traditions to offer lighter local vegetarian dishes. Meaning Olympians will enjoy Michelin-starred dishes and plant-based meat alternatives, including hard-boiled egg croissants, artichoke cream and slices of feta cheese with truffles. Doesn't that sound premium? But don't forget, these athletes are protein-proofed.
The IOC stipulates that food must be local, predominantly plant-based, and focus on reducing waste. Nearly two-thirds of the 500 dishes on offer are vegetarian and include meat-free dishes such as beef-free Burgundy goulash. Popular fast food such as McDonald's will no longer be on the menu of the Paris Olympics. For those craving Chicken McNuggets, they will offer soy products as an alternative.
All animal products for the Games come from within 250 kilometers of Paris and are produced organically or naturally. The remaining food will be redistributed to those in need, and the used coffee grounds will be reused for fertilization. This new approach has caused a lot of backlash from some sports fans, and some have even called it a conspiracy.
"There's something called protein that all elite athletes need, and vegetables contain very small amounts of protein," they posted on social media. I think this is a conspiracy by the France to weaken their competitiveness. Someone else said angrily, "You're feeding athletes, not weak vegetarians." ”
Another netizen pointed out, "Olympians don't grow up eating this kind of food. "Many other fans are in favor of providing healthy and sustainable food options for athletes. One person posted, "I love the way fools lash out at things they've never tried. Another netizen added: "It's common sense. Delicious, healthy food celebrates the idea of life and sustainability. ”
The vegetarian menu of 2/3 of the Paris Olympics is definitely a bold attempt. Although this decision has been controversial, at least it has shown that the other side of the Olympics is not just the collision of sports competition and culture and food habits. Now I only hope that 1/3 of the meat meals can meet the needs of athletes, don't force athletes to order food behind their backs, and because of this, the urine test is unqualified, then there is a play!