(Lexington,NC)
Lexington Memorial Hospital, a part of Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, is taking important steps to offer healthier foods to employees and visitors as part of the NC Prevention Partners’ (NCPP) statewide Healthy Food in Hospitals initiative. Lexington Memorial has been named a “Red Apple” hospital by NCPP by meeting all five healthy food guidelines designed to develop, promote and sustain a healthy food environment.
As a Red Apple hospital Lexington Memorial has developed strategies to promote healthy food choices through five core guidelines including access, pricing, marketing, employee benefits and education that all aim to make it easier for employees and visitors to make healthy food choices.
“As a health care leader it is important that Lexington Memorial set the example for living healthy lifestyles and making healthy choices,” said Barbara Smith, vice president. “The dietary staff has used creativity and ingenuity to create menus that are not only healthy and delicious, but also easily recognizable as the better choice.” She added that achieving Red Apple status reflects Lexington Memorial’s commitment to be a leader in Davidson County and the entire state in encouraging healthy eating.
Patsy Plant, registered dietitian and Director of Dietary, admits that she is on a mission to encourage employees and visitors to make healthy food choices. “Healthy eating leads to improved health and wellness,” she said. “Through the health conscious meals now on the menu, Lexington Memorial actively demonstrates that making healthy food choices does not mean sacrificing flavor.”
As a Red Apple hospital, all food served in the hospital cafeteria will adhere to healthy food nutrition criteria and have nutrition information displayed at the point-of-selection. A special “Live Well” logo will designate healthy food choices, enabling customers to know at a glance that their food selection is a healthy one.
Pricing incentives will be used to promote healthy eating. Blue plate specials will be offered as well as reduced pricing for healthy food menu items. In addition, the cafeteria has expanded its hours of operation for customer convenience and is now open from 6:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. seven days a week.
Lexington Memorial is not alone in promoting a healthy food environment. More than half of the hospitals in the state are actively promoting a healthy food environment as defined by NCPP, putting North Carolina on the map as a national leader in obesity prevention.
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