A 16-person Dutch team has designed a seven-day plant-based hospital menu template; each day's menu provides 90–97 grams of protein and costs €10.50–€12.30 ($11.94–$13.98), according to Plant Based News. The team selected 30 of 40 tested recipes.
Recipes were assessed for protein, taste, portion size, price and practicality. Menu options include hazelnut pancakes, paprika-chickpea sandwiches, spinach-and-soy mince pie and eggplant pilaf with bean cassoulet.
The menu may serve as a template for Dutch hospitals pursuing the Green Deal on Sustainable Healthcare's 2030 target of a 40%-to-60% animal-to-plant protein ratio. In a study published in the European Journal of Nutrition, the team said fully plant-derived meals can provide adequate protein and be palatable, cost-effective and feasible for clinical implementation. It called for real-world research on patient acceptance and actual intake in relation to individual requirements.
