Greater Baltimore Medical Center is committed to feeding healthy food to patients, employees, and the community and took  a multi-pronged approach to offering healthier foods while reducing the hospital’s environmental impact, an impressive collaborative feat.

A GBMC study found that 87% of people eating in the cafeteria are hospital employees. GBMC decided that if it did not promote healthy eating inside the hospital, especially to staff, then they could not expect the message to translate to patients and visitors!

Accordingly, GBMC conducted a case study on sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) offerings and consumption in the hospital. As a result, the hospital replaced the most harmful drinks with healthier choices. Twelve ounce SSB cans were replaced with ten ounce cans. GBMC also set up an educational table with handouts and visuals. In the first month of the campaign, non –SSB sales exceeded SSB sales for the first time.

On the production side, GBMC altered menus and purchasing to maximize production and reduce waste. Paper meal tickets were replaced with reusable plastic cards, and compostable fiber trays are being used in the cafeteria. Food waste was reduced by 1,100 pounds per month from March to August of this year. The hospital also installed “hydration stations” which allow for refilling reusable water bottles. To further promote waste reduction and environmental awareness, GBMC gives discounts to those with reusable coffee mugs.