Hospital Changes Food Environment for Patients

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No more deep fried foods or sodas will be offered in Allina Health clinics in Minn., as the clinic’s CEO, Penny Wheeler, decided to move forward on their efforts to make the healthy choice the easy choice for all who enter their clinics.

Working toward a “Choose Healthy” initiative, Allina Health’s 13 hospitals and over 90 clinics will remove sugar-sweetened beverages and deep-fried foods in its hospital cafeterias, vending machines, cafes and other food-service areas. The change will be effective January 1, 2016, and include enhanced food labels on all food products.

Wheeler also announced on Tuesday, December 1st that the McDonalds’ that had been serving customers since 1988 in the Abbot- Northwestern Hospital, would be closed by May 31, 2016.

According to their website, beginning Jan. 1, Allina Health will offer the following beverages within the hospital:

• Water (filtered tap, unsweetened, 100% fruit or vegetable-infused, seltzer, or naturally flavored)
• 100% fruit juice (optimal 4 oz. service size)
• 100% vegetable juice (optimal sodium less than 140 mg per serving)
• Milk (low-fat including 1% and 2% and nonfat, unflavored)
• Unsweetened non-dairy milk alternatives (unsweetened)
• Unsweetened teas and coffees

Offering healthier options and removing the temptation to splurge on a sugary beverage is a healthy step toward a culture of health needed within hospitals. Hospitals need to be an environment where patients, doctors and all who enter their doors, see what health looks like in all facets, making sure to encourage healthier choices for everyone.

To learn more about how sugar- sweetened beverages can increase health risks like diabetes and obesity in Latino kids, click here.

Tweet this change: No more @McDonalds in @AllinaHealth Hospitals! #SSB and #fried foods are out the door! http://bit.ly/1lbJnAz  pic.twitter.com/a8VNhLGTFT