When you go to the hospital to get better, you expect the food to help you recover. But sometimes, the food can actually make your health worse. Hospitals are meant for healing, yet many meals are full of unhealthy ingredients like fat, cholesterol and processed foods. These foods are not what people dealing with heart disease, diabetes or obesity need.

A simple fix is to follow the lead of hospitals that have made plant-based meals the default choice. Plant-based meals focus on fruits, vegetables, whole grains and beans. Studies show these foods can improve health. They are also better for the environment. States like New York have made plant-based meals the default option, with New York’s 11 public hospitals leading the way. In Maryland, we have no public hospitals, but we have major private institutions — the University of Maryland Medical Center, Johns Hopkins Hospital and Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center — that can choose to take this step.

Eating plant-based foods can lower the risk of serious diseases like heart disease and diabetes. These diseases are common in the United States and extremely expensive to treat. Hospitals can help patients recover faster by serving healthier meals. When people eat better, they may not have to return to the hospital as often. In New York, hospitals that began serving plant-based meals saw great results. Patients are getting healthier, and hospitals are saving money because plant-based meals are less expensive. With rising health care costs, it makes sense for Maryland hospitals to follow suit.

Plant-based meals benefit both people’s health and the planet. Raising animals for food uses a lot of water, land and energy, and it creates waste. In New York in 2023, plant-based meals helped reduce carbon emissions by 36% and saved 59 cents per meal while offering many health benefits for patients. By choosing plant-based meals, hospitals can lessen their impact on the environment. Hospitals are a vital part of our communities, and they can help us be more sustainable.

Some worry that not all patients will want plant-based meals or that these meals will not meet everyone’s nutritional needs. But making plant-based meals the default does not mean taking away choices. Patients can still request other types of meals if they prefer. The goal is to make healthier choices easier. Changing to plant-based menus might take some work. Hospitals will need new suppliers, staff training and menu adjustments. But these challenges can be overcome. Healthier patients and lower costs are worth the effort.

Now is the time to make a change. Hospitals should help us become healthier, not harm our health with poor food choices. I encourage you to take action by contacting local lawmakers and hospital leaders. Your voice can help create a healthier future for Maryland.

These leaders can make plant-based meals the default in Maryland’s hospitals. By speaking up, you can help create healthier hospitals and a better future for our state. Let’s make this positive change together and build healthier communities, starting with the food served in our hospitals.

Angelina Marone is a student in the master of science in nursing program at the University of Pennsylvania and a part-time registered nurse at Johns Hopkins Hospital.