Hospital Makes Choosing Healthier Food Easier

News Release from Washington County.

Woodwinds Health Campus, known internationally for its innovative and holistic approach to patient care, is now working to provide its café customers with healthier meal options, as well as nutritional information for menu choices. This is an example of how Woodwinds promotes and practices health and wellness in all areas on the campus.

The Woodwinds Woods Café has been making changes one step at a time by testing a variety of healthy recipes with taste samplings that incorporate fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats. It has also been testing healthier “to go” items such as nut mixes, hummus veggie dip, fresh fruit cups, and organic milk. The goal is to continue to offer more healthy options for patrons to taste and, eventually, incorporate them into the menu.

The Woods Café will soon be offering a nutrient analysis for most items on the menu. This will allow customers to make an informed choice, practice balance in their diets, and provide an educational opportunity as customers make their meal choices. “Our hope is that by offering new healthy menu items paired with nutritional information here at the café, our customers will enjoy whole, healthy foods more, learn how easy it can be to eat healthfully, and empower them to make better choices while eating out, buying groceries and even preparing food at home,” said Brenda Navin, registered dietitian and Ways to Wellness program manager at Woodwinds.

Woodwinds is committed to helping the community lead a healthy lifestyle, which includes incorporating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables. This summer Woodwinds is partnering with Big River Farms CSA (community supported agriculture) to be a pick-up site for organic vegetables and fruits.

Creating the ultimate patient and employee experience has been the driving force of Woodwinds since it opened its doors in 2000. Making these changes fits in with the guiding principles of improving the health of the community and to serve as a learning laboratory for creating new systems and programs.

The hospital’s healthier menu changes have been made possible through a worksite wellness project funded by the Statewide Health Improvement Project (SHIP) in Washington County. SHIP aims to help Minnesotans live longer, healthier lives by reducing the burden of chronic disease.