An important emerging trend in the sustainable food systems movement is the development of healthier food systems in hospitals. This trend began around 2006, when the American Medical Student Association began a campaign to remove fast-food from hospital campuses. Other organizations, such as Health Care Without Harm, also joined the movement.
The goal of this movement is to ensure that hospitals set a good example for healthy living and improve access to healthy foods by providing their staff and patients with healthier food choices. This includes not only improving the nutritional content of food available in the cafeteria, but also the food available in vending machines. While different organizations have varied criteria on what constitutes “healthy” food, there are general goals, including:
1. Reducing or eliminating trans fats and high-fructose corn syrup.
2. Reducing sodium content in foods.
3. Reducing fat content in foods.
4. Offering multiple vegetable and fruit servings.
5. Providing nutritional information and pricing incentives to educate clients and encourage healthy choices.
However, a hospital can go beyond simply providing more nutritionally sound fare for its cafeteria and vending machine customers. Food purchasing choices can have a significant environmental impact. For instance, purchasing seasonal vegetables and fruits from local farmers’ markets not only brings money into the community but also results in a lower carbon footprint, since food does not have to be transported over long distances. Similarly, choosing organic produce, cage-free poultry meat and eggs, grass-fed meat not treated with antibiotics, and bovine growth hormone-free dairy products also carry significant ecological impact.
While it is too soon to tell whether providing customers with healthier options helps with behavioral and dietary change, the positive environmental impacts of more sustainable hospital food systems are difficult to ignore. Starting a “Healthy Hospital” movement in one’s own community is to a certain degree uncharted territory; however, many examples and resources exist to aid those who are interested.
If you are interested in making your local hospital healthier, check out these resources: