Portuguese Hospitals to Offer More Plant-Based Foods in “Groundbreaking” Program

Four major hospitals in Lisbon, Portugal, are joining ProVeg Portugal’s Sustainable Meals program to offer more plant-based options in their cafeterias. This initiative, in collaboration with caterer ITAU, will provide training and raise awareness of the environmental and health impacts of food choices among staff and customers. Nutrition experts will help develop tailored plant-based recipes as part of the agreement.

The Sustainable Meals program, first launched in 2022, has already served over 58,000 plant-based meals to schools in Portugal. Following its success, the program is now being expanded to hospitals. Similar programs in New York and proposed in the UK have shown significant benefits in terms of patient acceptance, satisfaction, reduced emissions, and cost savings. ProVeg Portugal's initiative demonstrates how food choices in institutions can be a powerful tool for climate action and healthier lifestyles.