Seeding Sustainability in Hospital Kitchens

Posted by on March 06, 2011

Women’s Health & Environmental Network
704 N. 23rd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19130
Telephone: 215-990-1271 • Email:  Info@WHEN.org
Web Site:  http://www.WHEN.org

Contact: Dianne Moore
610-949-9497 or Dianne@when.org

Sustainable Foods For Healthier Patients & the Environment

In recognition of National Nutrition Month, beginning March 1st, WHEN announces the release of Healthcare’s Harvest: Seeding Sustainability in Hospital Kitchens, a compilation of 10 sustainable food recipes to guide large institutions to healthier menus.  Five leading hospitals contributed, including Abington Memorial Hospital, Christiana Care Health System, Cooper University Hospital, Holy Redeemer Medical Center, and Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, signers of the Healthy Food in Health Care Pledge.  The recipes highlight delicious organic, locally sourced, and seasonal ingredients served in hospitals for patients, staff and customers.  The free collection is available online at http://www.WHEN.org.

The collection results from the cook training event WHEN coordinated for hospitals in the region to learn about chemical-free, seasonal and local whole foods.  Twelve hospitals attended the training and have committed to incorporating more sustainable foods in their kitchens.  WHEN’s Healthy Food in Healthcare program engages the healthcare sector to commit to buying, preparing, and serving healthy, sustainable foods which support a food system to protect the health of patients, farmers, and the environment.  WHEN encourages hospitals, other healthcare facilities and other institutions to sample the recipes and incorporate some aspect of sustainable foods into food service.  The collection offers definitions of sustainable food terms and provides simple checklists to guide institutions on purchasing.

Healthcare’s Harvest was made possible with support from Health Care Without Harm and sponsors of the cook training – Golden Valley Coffee Roasters, Harrisburg Dairies, Lancaster Farm Fresh Cooperative, Whole Foods Jenkintown, and Why Not Bob Store Dot Net – which was hosted by Venture CDC Corporation.  For more information, contact Dianne Moore, 610-949-9497 or Dianne@when.org.