New York City’s public hospitals have taken a green leap forward, and it’s not just about the environment—it’s about their menu. By making plant-based meals the standard for inpatient dining, NYC Health + Hospitals, the nation’s most extensive municipal health system, has significantly reduced its food-related carbon footprint.

Source: @PLANTBASEDNEWS/YouTube

When you walk into one of the 11 public hospitals in the city, you won’t find the traditional meat-based dishes on the menu. Instead, you might come across pasta with a meatless Bolognese or Sancocho without beef. While this sounds vegan, the hospitals have chosen to label their food as “plant-based”, consciously avoiding the term “vegan” due to potential negative connotations.

The result? A whopping 36% reduction in food-related carbon emissions within a year of implementing these changes, as reported by the mayor’s office. Even more impressive is the patient response. Most are happily accepting these eco-friendly dishes, with a satisfaction rate exceeding 90%, according to Samantha Morgenstern from Sodexo, the service provider behind these meals.

The drive towards a plant-centric menu isn’t just a culinary experiment. It’s part of a broader initiative led by Mayor Eric Adams, known for his plant-based diet. With food and transportation each contributing to about 20% of the city’s greenhouse gas emissions, such efforts can make a significant difference. The mayor’s office aims to slash food-based emissions by a third by the end of this decade.

Studies back up these efforts. Recent research from Oxford University found that plant-based diets result in 75% fewer greenhouse gas emissions than meat-inclusive diets. The world’s food system, notably beef, lamb, and cheese, accounts for a significant chunk of global emissions.

This shift has another silver lining: savings. After transitioning to plant-based meals, the hospitals initially saved 59 cents per tray, and although this has varied, it continues to be more cost-effective than meat dishes.

While several institutions globally have pledged to reduce food-related emissions, NYC’s public hospitals stand out by making plant-based meals the default. Their monumental step is inspiring other health systems worldwide to reconsider their menus. As Mercedes Redwood from NYC Health + Hospitals rightly said, “If we can do it, truly anyone can.”

Solution Not Pollution Sweatshirt by Tiny Rescue: Climate Collection

Related Content:

• A Hospital’s Fresh Approach to Healthier Eating
• Mayor Eric Adams Announces Expansion of Plant-Based Meals For Patients in NYC Public Hospitals
• Scottish Doctors Urge NHS to Ban Meat From Hospitals
• Plant-Based Doctor, Michelle McMacken, Appointed Executive Director of Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine for NYC Health + Hospitals
• Incogmeato™ Coming to Hospitals and Schools

Easy Ways to Help the Planet:

• Eat Less Meat: Download Food Monster, the largest plant-based Recipe app on the App Store, to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals and get healthy. You can also buy a hard or soft copy of our favorite vegan cookbooks.
• Reduce Your Fast Fashion Footprint: Take initiative by standing up against fast fashion Pollution and supporting sustainable and circular brands like Tiny Rescue that raise awareness around important issues through recycled zero-waste clothing designed to be returned and remade repeatedly.
• Support Independent Media: Being publicly funded gives us a greater chance to continue providing high-quality content. Please consider supporting us by donating!
• Sign a Petition: Your voice matters! Help turn petitions into victories by signing the latest list of must-sign petitions to help people, animals, and the planet.
• Stay Informed: Keep up with the latest news and essential stories involving animals, the environment, sustainable living, food, health, and human interest topics by subscribing to our newsletter!
• Do What You Can: Reduce waste, plant trees, eat local, travel responsibly, reuse stuff, say no to single-use plastics, recycle, vote smart, switch to cold water laundry, divest from fossil fuels, save water, shop wisely, Donate if you can, grow your food, volunteer, conserve energy, compost, and don’t forget about the microplastics and microbeads lurking in common household and personal care products!