Healthy Food in Health Care

 

HealthyFoodThe Healthy Food in Health Care Program is part of a broader, national campaign through Health Care Without Harm. It works to expand the network of interested hospitals transitioning their current food procurement practices toward purchasing more sustainably-produced foods for their patients and staff. Listen to what Gary Cohen, Founder & Co-Director for Health Care Without Harm, has to say about healthcare being a major driver for sustainable agriculture in support of healthier communities and disease prevention.

Click here to read how to get started, or sign the Healthy Food in Health Care Pledge today!

Watermelon Gazpacho

The current industrialized food system favors highly refined, calorie-dense foods, rather than fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and other high fiber foods important for health. Monthly recipes will feature nutritious, local and organic foods that may be served to patients, visitors, employees, or simply made in your own home.

» Read this month's recipe

Upcoming Events

Past Events

  • Detroit Urban Garden Tour

    While foreclosures, unemployment, and rising food and energy prices affect the lives of many Americans, thousands of Detroiters are taking control of their health and the health of their city by building a new food system from the ground up…

    » Read more

  • FoodMed 2009 Conference

    On June 30th and July 1st in Detroit, over 200 attendees gathered for the FoodMed 2009 Conference – the Third Conference on Local, Sustainable Food in Health Care…

    » Read more

Michigan Hospitals Making Progress

  • Hospital leadership videos
  • Hospital links promoting progress

Local Agriculture & Economic Development

  • The Food System as an Economic Driver (PDF)
  • Organizations catalyzing change
  • Video focus: CS Mott Professor of Sustainable Agriculture

Detroit's Urban Agriulture

  • Videos of community champions for change
  • Organizations improving communities

Limits of Industrial Agriculture

  • Organizations identifying CAFO pollution
  • CAFO overview video with the Union for Concerned Scientists

 

Other Helpful Links

As attention is being directed towards the obesity epidemic and other chronic diseases known as the "Western disease cluster," hospitals have been reassessing their food procurement strategies. Health care has a natural incentive to provide food that's healthy for people and the environment.

In addition, health care is now 17% of the GDP and growing. Practitioners are beginning to understand the link between food production and food related diseases and can utilize their purchasing power to signal to the marketplace that they support the development of a local, sustainable agricultural sector, thereby supporting economic development and improving public health.

Meet Our Coordinator

Hillary BisnettHillary Bisnett joined the Ecology Center staff in April 2009, and she holds a bachelor's degree in Sustainable Business from Aquinas College. Her passion for local, sustainable food comes from growing up on a family farm in southwest Michigan and being introduced to farmer’s markets, organic farming practices, and just what fruits and vegetables should truly taste like at a very young age.

Before coming to the Ecology Center, Hillary worked as a consultant at Metro Health Hospital in Grand Rapids. She coordinated a farmers market on the hospital, which featured free community health screenings – focusing on education for disease prevention. Also during this time, she managed their healthy food pledge efforts as well as the hospitals stormwater management program.

In her spare time, Hillary became involved with the Greater Grand Rapids Food System Council. Becoming a member of the executive board, she helped write a new strategic plan, worked within its community gardens program and organized a seed and plant swap.

Contact Hillary by email or call at 734-761-3186 ext. 127.