WHY

Hospital food presents a $4 billion-a-year opportunity in Canada to make an incredible impact. Hospitals can take bold action by implementing Planetary Health Menus to reduce the environmental impact of their food offerings while supporting healthy eating at the same time.

One-third of greenhouse gas emissions come from the food system - between growing, harvesting, processing, delivering, and disposing of it - and almost five percent of emissions come from health care. 

Impacts related to climate, such as air pollution, flooding, heat waves, and mental health are increasing, and these impacts disproportionately affect communities, that already experience structural inequity. 

Serving healthier food on hospital trays and in cafeterias creates opportunities for patients, families, staff, and visitors to take climate action with every meal.

Changing menus and sourcing can meaningfully impact both the climate impact of our food systems and in turn reduce the health impacts of climate change.

Through improvements like food waste reduction, plant-forward menus, and values-based procurement, food service teams in health care can make bold changes to improve the health of their patients, community, and the planet we share.

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