Student story: Lack of meat causes frustration

By Garrett Wolf
The heady aroma of seasoned meat wafts toward the noses of hungry campers.

The smell of hamburgers and hotdogs entice grumbling stomachs -- except for that of Katie Guyot, who doesn’t eat red meat.

At the back of the line, Guyot, a junior at Free State High School, contemplates her options.

One: Don’t eat anything and go hungry.

Two: Spend money on an overpriced meal from a local restaurant.

Three: Make this meaty meal as green as possible.

Going for option three, Guyot goes through the line.

“It’s not awful,” Guyot said. “I’ve just had to improvise. I used lettuce, mustard and tomatoes.”

This doesn’t sound like much of a meal, but Guyot came prepared for the red meat situation.

“I’ve been eating protein bars between meals, so dinner is just like another snack,” she said.

Eating at catered events can be difficult even when you’re not a full vegetarian. Guyot only refuses to eat red meat -- a decision that stems from her love of animals. She will eat turkey, chicken and fish.

The special connection with animals began while she was still in the crib. Her parents allowed the three family cats to crawl around and snuggle with their child. It’s continued into her later life with pet rabbits -- first Speckles and then Cloud.

This isn’t the first time Guyot has had to deal with being at camp and having only meat to eat.

“When I was in the seventh grade at a camp, the only thing to eat was a hamburger,” Guyot said. “That night, I was really, really  sick because I hadn’t eaten red meat in such a long time.”

Guyot isn’t alone.

“I don’t eat anything at the dinners,” said Meera Duncan, a senior at Wichita Southeast High School. “I will either go to the Subway downtown or try to save some of my lunch for later.”

Duncan became a vegetarian five years ago and recently decided to become a vegan.

“I wanted a challenge,” she said. “It’s harder than being a vegetarian, and I feel healthier since I’ve started.”

Food wise, the camp sticks with the same type of cuisine every year. Despite campers like Guyot and Duncan, a vegetarian-friendly menu hasn’t been in high demand.

“We didn’t request a vegetarian bar with the hotel,” said Robyn Tatum, Business Manager here at camp.

Garrett Wolf is a sophomore at Andover High School and a student in the advanced writing class.