City Cast Chicago logo
Display Ad: Enjoy Illinois, Meet in the middle
November 4, 2021

Why Did A Meatless Meal at CPS Taste Like Meat?

City Cast Chicago

Why Did A Meatless Meal at CPS Taste Like Meat?

00:00:00
View all City Cast Chicago episodes

In mid-October, longtime health and food reporter Monica Eng was peeking at Chicago Public Schools’ lunch menus. Yes, for fun. Monica was pleasantly surprised to learn that CPS had launched “Plant Forward Thursdays,” the district’s take on meatless options available to about 300,000 students, many of whom rely on schools for daily meals. Of course Monica wanted to know what the “lentil Joe sandwich” tasted like. But she hit a roadblock. We talk to Monica about CPS’ rollout of meatless meals and about her decades-long quest to make school lunches healthier. 


Guest: Monica Eng — Reporter, Axios Chicago


Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago

Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Hey Chicago

Stay connected to City Cast Chicago and get ready to join the local conversation.

Can't subscribe? Turn off your ad blocker and try again.

Latest Episodes

See all
June 10

Public Pools Open Next Week. Plus, Chicago’s New Women’s Sports Bar

Most of the city’s 77 public pools, 200 water features, and Chicago’s only inland beach are all opening next Friday. Plus, we’ve got more...

City Cast Chicago podcast episode art
June 9

Red Line Weekend Detour and Ultimate Summer Guide

Red Line trains will be rerouted to elevated tracks for the third straight weekend due to maintenance work in the Loop subway. Executive...

City Cast Chicago podcast episode art
June 8

Who's Running For Mayor? Plus, Bears Pick Hammond?!

Chicago’s mayoral election is nine months away. Last week, Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza became the first major candidate to make t...

City Cast Chicago podcast episode art
June 5

Why Chicago Libraries Got It All. Plus, Are The Bears Still Ours?

Chicago is opening its 82nd public library branch in June, and loaning out books is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to what the...

City Cast Chicago podcast episode art
June 4

How the City Is Helping Chicagoans Buy Houses and Read More Books

Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Department of Housing are launching a new $21 million housing program to provide down payment and closing a...

City Cast Chicago podcast episode art
June 3

City Buying Greyhound Station. Plus, Chicago’s Lesbian Business Directory

For almost two years, there have been questions about the future of Chicago’s downtown bus terminal. Flix, the parent company of Greyhoun...

City Cast Chicago podcast episode art
June 2

What Happened in Springfield? Plus, Dreaming of Summer Break

What did lawmakers get done in Springfield? A $56 billion budget, a cellphone ban in schools, relief for those who lost SNAP benefits, an...

City Cast Chicago podcast episode art
June 1

Your Guide to June 2026 in Chicago

June is officially summertime Chi in our world, so we’re going to help you make the most of it. Host Jacoby Cochran is joined by contribu...

City Cast Chicago podcast episode art
May 29

School Board Hopefuls, Traffic Court Confusion, and Murakami Homers Again … And Again

This year, for the first time, Chicago will fully elect the 21-person school board. Candidates had to get their petitions in this week wi...

City Cast Chicago podcast episode art
May 28

A Chicago Mayor and Pope Walk Into a Schlitz Bar…

Mayor Brandon Johnson is in Vatican City this week to meet Chicago’s very own Pope Leo XIV for the first time. The two are expected to di...

City Cast Chicago podcast episode art