New York's Mayor Promotes Vegetarianism

New York's Mayor declares goal for all residents to become vegetarians

In a press briefing, Eric Adams (Democratic Party), the new Mayor of New York City, stated that his goal is for New Yorkers to lead a "plant-based life" when it comes to their diet. He himself is a vegetarian.

Adams adopted a plant-based diet in 2016 to restore his health, and the switch helped him combat issues such as vision loss and pain caused by type 2 diabetes.

Having experienced firsthand the health benefits of a plant-based diet, Adams used his positions to help New Yorkers gain access to plant-based education, medical treatment, and meals.

Eric Adams Expands Plant-Based Medical Program

This week, Adams pushed through a major expansion of a medical program focused on plant-based nutrition. As an extension of the Plant-Based Lifestyle Medicine Program led by Adams, the first program of its kind focuses on providing whole-food, plant-based nutrition and lifestyle counseling to critically ill patients, and was originally implemented at NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue medical system.

With this week's expansion, the program will serve six additional locations across NYC's boroughs, including Jacobi, Lincoln, Woodhull, Kings County, and Elmhurst hospitals, as well as Gotham Health and Vanderbilt. As part of this program, NYC Health + Hospitals will collaborate with the American College of Lifestyle Medicine to offer care teams additional training.

"We know that evidence-based lifestyle medicine programs deliver strong health outcomes, so it is inspiring to see these NYC Health + Hospitals programs reach more communities affected by chronic disease and health inequities," Catherine Collings, MD, President of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, said in a statement. "This is innovative, vital, and time-sensitive work that will mitigate the impact of chronic disease in New York City and serve as a model nationwide."

Eric Adams

NYC Health + Hospitals has also partnered with the nonprofit Plant-Powered Metro New York, which will host cooking demonstrations for patients at King County Hospital. "Across the city, people from all walks of life are inspired by the power of food for health. They want to learn how to incorporate more fruits, vegetables, and other healthy plant-based foods onto their plates and into their daily routines", said Lianna Levine Reisner, President and Network Director of Plant-Powered Metro New York, in a statement. "It is a major step forward that the public health system is investing in life-changing programs and services that prioritize evidence-based nutrition and lifestyle."

Each of the hospital sites will be staffed with a full-time dietitian and health coach, as well as physician teams who will help patients reclaim their health through multi-pronged approaches, including a focus on plant-based nutrition. All plans are tailored to individuals based on cultural traditions, socioeconomic circumstances, and other key factors. Eligibility criteria for participants include heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, prediabetes, and/or health concerns related to obesity.

«Today, New York City is once again leading the way with the most comprehensive expansion of a lifestyle medicine program in the nation", Adams said in a statement. "This is personal for me — a plant-based lifestyle helped save my life, and I am thrilled that New Yorkers in every zip code will have access to this important program. Together, we will stop fueling the health crisis and ensure that all New Yorkers have access to the healthy lifestyle they deserve.»

Vegan Fridays at NYC Public Schools

Adams is not only helping adults gain access to plant-based health programs, but is also focused on making plant-based progress for the youngest generation of New Yorkers.

Last week, Vegan Fridays arrived at NYC public schools. The new initiative will offer approximately 930,000 students in the NYC public school system free vegan meals as an extension of an existing Meatless Monday program. Vegan Fridays is the result of a long-standing partnership between the New York City Office of Food and Nutrition Services (OFNS) and the Coalition for Healthy School Food, which have worked with Adams and the school system to bring plant-based meals to the menu.

Vegan Fridays are also "perfectly imperfect", as milk is served alongside the meals — a result of the National School Lunch Program, which only offers reimbursements to schools that provide dairy products with meals. While many students enjoy the vegan meals, some reports from the first Vegan Friday indicate that non-vegan items such as bean-and-cheese burritos and cheese sandwiches are still being served as schools adjust to the new policy.