Health Care Without Harm today announced the "Balanced Menus Challenge," a voluntary program for health care organizations aimed at improving health and the environment. Participating organizations volunteer to reduce their meat offerings in patient meals and hospital cafeterias by 20% over 12 months to reduce diet-related chronic illnesses and the use of fossil fuels for meat production. The U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends 5-6 ounces of meat, fish, poultry or beans daily, while Americans on average eat 8 ounces of meat daily. To date, 14 hospitals are participating in the program. "We are committed to improving the health and welfare of my associates, which I hope will extend into their communities," said John Bluford, CEO of Truman Medical Centers in Kansas City, one of the participants. "The Balanced Menu Challenge is one of the commitments our team is making to make this a reality. At the same time, we know that we are working toward a larger goal of improving our environment for the future of our community." Bluford is AHA chair-elect for 2010.