Comment: How to keep plant-based foods on the table after Veganuary Published on: 4 February 2026 Writing for The Conversation, Andrew Walton and Johannes Kniess with Meera Iona Inglis discuss how more public institutions are providing a greater range of plant-based options. , ; , , and , Campaigns like Veganuary (an initiative that encourages people to eat a plant-based diet in January) have been hugely successful in raising awareness about the climate and the health benefits of eating this way. However, making the switch longer term is not always easy 鈥� especially when there are usually limited meat-free options in workplaces. For , my colleagues and I worked with Derek Bell (professor of environmental politics at 缅北禁地) to identify public institutions like hospitals, universities and local councils as key players in the move towards a more . They account for a significant amount of the food that is sold in the UK 鈥� of all food sales or 拢2.4 billion annually. They can also and help shift social norms around food consumption. However, getting caterers to become can be controversial. Some argue that public institutions should not when it comes to what we eat, or that it is insensitive to the . Our work tries to tackle these concerns. While eliminating or reducing the offering of meat and dairy might limit options, public institutions already limit our choices in various ways to promote health and sustainability. Also, norms and expectations can change. The 2006 public smoking ban initially faced considerable resistance, but has since greatly increased, including among smokers. Thoughtful catering When introduced thoughtfully, plant-based catering has proved popular. In 2021, , the largest municipal health system in the US, made plant-based food the default option for its inpatient meals. Their menus are both nutritionally balanced 鈥� assuaging worries about vegan and vegetarian menus 鈥� and offer users a diverse range of choices. The menu includes Moroccan vegetable tagine, Spanish vegetable paella and a pad Thai noodle bowl. This shows how plant-based catering can take into account different dietary needs, while respecting a range of cultural backgrounds and not restricting the ability of people to choose. As many as 95% of eligible patients did not request alternative meals, and 90% reported being satisfied. Many patients reported that they would continue to eat vegetarian meals at home. This shows the power of defaults, and the influence public institutions can have on our actions. New York City Health + Hospitals has also shown tangible environmental and economic gains. Its food-related carbon emissions fell by 36%, while food bills also went down: these meals cost roughly 59 cents (拢0.43) less per tray than meat-based alternatives. We鈥檙e seeing changes happening elsewhere too. In the UK, a growing number of universities are gradually shifting towards more plant-based catering. Sometimes this is being encouraged by students: Kent, Lancaster and University College London, student unions have voted in favour of lobbying their university to adopt more sustainable and healthy catering options. In 2021, successfully changed their menus to 68% vegan, 28% vegetarian and just 4% meat dishes. Like the New York City hospitals, they offer a wide range of nutritionally balanced meals with flavours from around the world. Providing the right kinds of plant-based foods is an effective way of countering worries that people have about the health risks of going vegetarian or vegan, and about restricting their dietary preferences. In short, a well planned menu can keep plant-based foods on the table beyond Veganuary. Don鈥檛 have time to read about climate change as much as you鈥檇 like? Every Wednesday, The Conversation鈥檚 environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. , Lecturer in Philosophy, ; , Senior Lecturer in Political Philosophy, , and , Senior Lecturer in Political Philosophy, This article is republished from under a Creative Commons license. Read the . Share: Latest News New partnership to boost careers in low carbon energy 缅北禁地 and Durham universities are working together on a new regional project to strengthen the future workforce for North East England鈥檚 growing low carbon and offshore wind industries. published on: 28 May 2026 Healthy lifestyle shown to lower risk of death after cancer diagnosis New evidence shows that sticking to five lifestyle recommendations improves survival after a later cancer diagnosis. published on: 28 May 2026 World-leading climate expert recognised with Royal Society Fellowship Professor Hayley Fowler has been elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in recognition of her pioneering work on climate change impacts. published on: 27 May 2026 Facts and figures
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