Tomorrow´s patient meals

Purpose and goal:

The project aims to investigate the possibility of introducing plant-based meals as a new standard for patient meals. Our objective is to do a feasibility study in the area and develop an action plan to increase the proportion of plant-based meals in Swedish healthcare in a way which leads to more sustainable meals, better health outcomes for patients and increased meal experience. The goal of the action plan is to form a base for a larger project that implements the change.

Expected results and effects:

Patient meals have long been designed based on calories, nutrients and edibility to avoid malnutrition. By introducing plant-based meals, one can have more positive effects, such as reduced greenhouse gas emissions and improvement of patients´ health. A plant-based diet can, among other things, lead to a lower risk of chronic lifestyle diseases and also have other positive health effects. The result could there for be expected to benefit both the climate and patients´ health.

Approach and implementation:

The project begins with the acquisition of knowledge from existing operations within Sodexo Global, which today have a more plant-based focus for patient meals. Knowledge will be gathered about practical activities, cost benefits and nutrition and used to map what changes it would mean for Sodexo Sverige to implement this. Finally, an action plan must be developed that shows what needs to be implemented in a possible transition to a more plant-based meal business.