BC's largest hospital pilots plant-based defaults
By Katie Cantrell @ 2024-03-19T00:45 (+1)
Greener by Default partnered with British Columbia’s largest hospital, Vancouver General Hospital (VGH), on a Planetary Heath Menu project, advising on menu design and communication materials for patients and staff.
During the pilot, VGH expanded their plant-based options from 3 to 17 entrees, including dishes like Chickpea Curry with Cashews and Mango Chutney, and a Korean Gochujang Bowl. They also made plant-based dishes the default for over a third of lunches and dinners; prior to the pilot, the default option was always meat-based.
GBD is advising on data analysis to quantify the percentage of meals shifted from meat-based to plant-based and the resulting carbon savings. Vancouver Coastal Health, which operates VGH, will continue working with GBD to create a resource guide to expand planetary health menus to their other 12 hospitals.
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