Mass General's Eat Street Café Offers New Plant-based Menu Options

As part of Massachusetts General Hospital's efforts to enhance sustainability offerings throughout its organization, Nutrition and Food Services has introduced more plant-based and vegan meals in Eat Street Café to include soups, salads, sides and main entrees. Studies have shown that plant-based diets are better for the environment because they require less energy from fossil fuels, and use a smaller amount of water and other pollutants.

“We started to introduce more options before COVID-19 hit, but we needed to take out the salad bar during the pandemic, which eliminated the majority of our vegetarian or vegan offerings,” says Jody Melone, assistant director of Nutrition and Food Services. “We are excited to once again help promote healthy eating with some new plant-based options. Patrons should look for the new menu labeling. A green ‘V’ will indicate offerings free of dairy, meat, fish, eggs and honey.”

The cafeteria, located on Mass General’s main campus, now offers:

• A rotating vegan soup on the menu daily, made from scratch in-house
• “Grab and Go” side dishes, including beans/lentils and vegetables
• A bowl station with a grain, vegan and nonvegan protein, vegetables and sauces

Melone says the cafeteria’s chefs also are in the process of testing future dishes and desserts.

To celebrate the hospital’s new Center for the Environment and Health’s launch on April 1, Eat Street Café will feature a special plant-centered menu.

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Plant-Centered Menu

Thursday, April 1, 2021

Deli
Hummus sandwich with lettuce, tomato, roasted red peppers, olives, banana peppers and jalapeños on choice of bread

Chef Stage
Black bean burger on wheat roll with lettuce and tomato

Carvery
Mediterranean baked sweet potato
Steamed broccoli
Prince Edward vegetables

Taco Bowl
Black beans hot
Quinoa/farro mixture
Shredded lettuce
Corn pepper poblano blend
Pico de gallo
Avocado slices
Salsa
Tortilla strips
Cilantro lime vinaigrette dressing

Salads
Macro bowl
Asian chopped salad
Roasted vegetables
Ultimate fall salad

Soup
Vegetarian split pea soup

Dessert
Chocolate espresso tart