“By embracing the power of plants, and ensuring every neighbourhood across our city has both the knowledge and the access to healthy foods, we can cultivate a healthier future, one plant-based meal at a time.”

Mayor Eric Adams is challenging 8.8 million residents of New York City to eat more plant-based foods.

His call to action comes as part of a new campaign launched by the NYC Health Department called “Eat A Whole Lot More Plants.”

Ads of the campaign, which will run on television, radio, subways, NYC, outdoor media, and digital channels, aim to educate New Yorkers about the benefits of eating minimally processed plant foods in order to prevent disease and enjoy better health.

‘One plant-based meal at a time’

“With the ‘Eat A Whole Lot More Plants’ campaign, we are continuing the important work of transforming New Yorkers’ menus, improving their health, and building a more sustainable world,” the Mayor said.

 “A plant-based lifestyle transformed my life and helped put my type 2 diabetes into remission.

“By embracing the power of plants, and ensuring every neighbourhood across our city has both the knowledge and the access to healthy foods, we can cultivate a healthier future, one plant-based meal at a time.”

Adams’s health after going vegan

Adams has been a strong proponent of the vegan diet after he personally experienced its benefits when he switched to it in 2016. According to him, the diet helped alleviate his diabetic symptoms, such as pain and blindness.

Helping NYC get healthier

Since taking office, Adams has been instrumental in implementing new programs and changing policies centred on plant-based foods

New York City public schools have implemented plant-powered Fridays. Moreover, there are plans underway to decrease carbon emissions resulting from food purchases in city agencies by 33% by 2030.

He also intervened to launch an initiative with the nonprofit The Better Food Foundation and New York City Health + Hospitals that led to all NYC hospitals serving plant-based food as default.

The program was a huge hit. While patients could opt for meat, roughly 60%, chose vegan meal options, and an overwhelming 95% of those who ate the vegan servings were content with their selection.

In addition, the city has established a Plant-Based Lifestyle Medicine Program that stresses the importance of diet and exercises over medication in five hospitals. Research shows that most New Yorkers are highly supportive of these efforts.

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