EatThis. unconference TASTE with Robert Graham
WHAT A DAY! A day worth reflecting on—full of inspiration, great conversations, and of course, delicious food. The UNCONFERENCE at Koppert Cress brought together experts and changemakers to rethink the future of hospital food. Let’s look back on some key moments!
This event focused on introducing a healthy and sustainable plant-based diet in healthcare and emphasized the need for collaboration between different sectors. More than 60 experts from healthcare, food production, and gastronomy came together to discuss the urgent need for change and, most importantly, how to take action.
Key insights included:
🟣 Collaboration is essential – Transforming hospital food requires a shared mindset between healthcare, food producers, and the culinary sector.
🟣 Taste is the key to change – For a plant-based diet to succeed in hospitals, it must not only be nutritious but also delicious.
🟣 A plant-based shift can significantly impact health – Research confirmed that transitioning to plant-based meals could reduce diet-related diseases by 40-60%.
🟣 Action is needed, not just discussion – Change starts with bold decisions. The question remains: who will take the first step?
Robert Graham – Fresh med NYC
Robert Graham emphasized the critical connection between food and health, highlighting how hospital food must shift from merely filling to truly nourishing. He shared inspiring case studies from New York hospitals, proving that change is possible when healthcare institutions prioritize nutrition. His key message: “People are fed by the food industry, which pays no attention to health, and are treated by the health industry, which pays no attention to food.”
Patrick Deckers – Caring Doctors
Patrick Deckers stressed that transforming hospital food starts with bringing all stakeholders together—from doctors to food producers and policymakers. Understanding each other’s perspectives is essential to creating real, lasting solutions. He emphasized that collaboration is the first step toward meaningful change.
Alie Rozendal – Reinier de Graaf Ziekenhuis
A great example of someone taking the first step is Alie Rozendal from Reinier de Graaf Hospital. She shared her experience in transforming the hospital’s approach to healthy food, highlighting the long and complex process required to shift mindsets and redefine the role of food in healthcare.Alie emphasized that real change is shaped by three key factors: mindset, clear guidelines, and the space to implement new solutions. She called on all attendees to support this transition, reinforcing that collective effort is essential in making sustainable, health-focused food the new standard in hospitals.This event was an important step towards a healthier and more sustainable future, where food and health go hand in hand.
Thank you for being part of this important dialogue! We look forward to the next steps that will emerge from these inspiring discussions and collaborations. EatThis. is excited to see that this Unconference has sparked new connections and set the first steps in motion. Meaningful conversations lead to new initiatives, made possible by the insights shared by Robert and the impactful work of Caring Doctors. To keep the momentum going, we will host another Unconference before summer to share updates and progress. Stay tuned!