As part of its effort to adhere to Food as Medicine principles, Spectrum Health is focusing on providing plant forward menus to guests and patients. Its new patient menu coming in 2023 will increase the number of items available for the most restricted patient population by focusing on using fresh ingredients minimally processed much as possible. To promote healthy healing, the program will eliminate the use of fryers, as well as highly processed meats and cheeses, from patient menus, which will be plant forward by design, allowing patients to add small amounts of proteins. This increases nutrient density of the menu being served to patients by following the Mediterranean diet. There will also be a focus on the quality of the proteins being served, requiring them to be certified non-GMO and all natural.
In addition, Spectrum Health has added 24-hour unmanned automated micro-marts throughout its system and hybrid automated checkout