From Next Year, Customized Meals for Vegetarian and Muslim Soldiers Will Be Provided in the Military

From next year, customized meal plans will be provided in the military for vegetarian and Muslim soldiers. /Photo unrelated to content, Source = Asia Economy

[Asia Economy Reporter Hana Na] The Ministry of National Defense plans to organize and provide customized meal plans for vegetarian and Muslim soldiers starting next year.

According to the Ministry of National Defense on the 27th, the military will identify the number of vegetarian and Muslim soldiers from next year and provide vegetarian meal plans for them.

A Ministry of National Defense official stated, "Once the number of vegetarian and Muslim soldiers is identified next year, we will create customized meal plans," adding, "Soft tofu, gim (seaweed), fruits, salads, grain cereals, vegetable bibimbap, and vegan canned foods are expected to be the main items."

The Military Manpower Administration will allow the indication of 'vegetarian' on personal information forms during the 2021 military service physical examination starting February next year. This is to enable the units where soldiers enlisted from next year are assigned to identify the status of vegetarian and Muslim soldiers and prepare meal plans accordingly.

Previously, the Ministry of National Defense had initiated support for soldiers requiring special meals through the 2020 meal policy. For soldiers requesting vegetarian meals, alternative items from available options such as rice, gim, vegetables, fruits, and tofu were provided at every meal, and soy milk was supplied instead of cow's milk.

Meanwhile, at the 'Meal Experts Forum' held on the 21st to establish meal support policies for soldiers requiring special meals such as vegetarians and Muslims, experts highly evaluated the 2020 meal policy. They also advised on budget allocation for special meal soldiers and meal plan composition, including the introduction of new meal items.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.