Eating more plant-forward meals that focus on vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and legumes—while decreasing or eliminating meat and other animal products—has shown to be better for people and better for the environment overall.
The great news for customers throughout Aramark Germany is that finding and enjoying more plant-forward meals just got a little easier with the introduction of the new Planet Power menu line.
Aramark chefs in Germany have been developing and offering menus that are better for the climate for a decade now under their Earth Week label. In 2022, they introduced a series of plant-forward recipes based on recommendations from scientists at the EAT-Lancet Commission. Their Planetary Health Diet has been introduced to more than 400 Aramark Germany restaurants so far.
This May, the team made Planetary Health Diet offerings a permanent menu line named Planet Power.
Planet Power
"The Planetary Health Diet aims to reduce the ecological footprint while incorporating all the nutrients the body needs," explains Ulrike Moessner, Head of Culinary Creation and Nutrition at Aramark Germany. "We are delighted that we can now establish the concept as a permanent menu line in participating establishments under the new Planet Power brand."
Planet Power meals range from vegan and vegetarian to options that have moderate amounts of fish, poultry, and meat.
With more than 50 recipes currently, Planet Power meals include Baked Summer Roll with cabbage, fruity chickpeas, peppers, and peanuts; Barley Risotto with green peas, lemon, fried pollock, and marinated mange tout (snap peas); and Vegetable Noodles with caramelized carrots, pumpkin, and parsley foam.
In addition to taking into account nutritional makeup and the scientifically based guidelines of the Planetary Health Diet when developing recipes, Aramark Germany assesses the carbon footprint of each dish as calculated by the Swiss eco-balance organization Eaternity.
Customer Appeal
The response to these Planet Power menus has been impressive. Many restaurants within the Aramark Germany client portfolio have recorded a 30 percent participation rate in Planetary Health Diet campaigns, such as "Easy Peasy & Co." for client OLYMP, a global fashion brand.
Aramark Germany has been the caterer at the OLYMP headquarters in Bietigheim-Bissingen, Germany, for six years. The two companies share a common goal of offering regional and healthy food.
"Our Aramark chef and his team provide us with a varied range of meals, which also caters to individual dietary requirements with around 40 percent vegetarian and vegan alternatives," explains Marc Fritz, Head of Marketing and Public Relations at OLYMP. "We were delighted to take part in the 'Easy Peasy & Co.' campaign, which was very well received by our guests."
VIDEO
Planet Power Takes Off
The team at Aramark Germany put together a short video to announce the new Planet Power brand.
More About Eating Plant-Forward
Aramark has been increasing the company’s emphasis on plant-forward dishes for some time—and with good reason.
Eating a plant-forward diet has become incredibly popular with diners and has been touted by medical and health organizations such as the American Heart Association.
In early October 2022, Aramark announced that by 2025 44 percent of its residential dining menu offerings at more than 250 colleges and universities in the US will be plant-based. The announcement was part of a longstanding collaboration between the company and the Humane Society of the United States. Aramark has also signed the World Resources Institute Coolfood Pledge, committing to reduce food-related emissions in the US 25% by 2030.
