MCCG Implements Comprehensive New Patient Menu, Joins Partnership for Healthier America

MCCG Implements Comprehensive New Patient Menu, Joins Partnership for Healthier America

New Low-Sodium, Low-Calorie Menu will Impact up to One Million Meals Within Five Years 

MACON, GA (Thursday, August 01, 2013) – The Medical Center of Central Georgia, along with its foodservice partner Morrison Healthcare, will implement a comprehensive new patient menu.  This new menu will not only make hospital food healthier than it has ever been, but is also designed to make MCCG  a model of healthful eating and to encourage behavioral change in the hospital and beyond.  MCCG is one of the first hospitals in the country to offer this new menu and expects it to impact one million patient meals annually.

MCCG  and Morrison Healthcare have also recently announced their partnership with the Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA) and its Hospital Healthy Food Initiative.  MCCG's commitment to this organization makes them a true nutrition and wellness leader in the Southeast and nationwide. The PHA Hospital Healthy Food Initiative seeks to move healthcare institutions toward delivering nutritious options to meet the needs of the children, families and communities they serve.

“Part of our mission is to take exceptional care of those we come in contact with, and our new menu, along with Morrison's PHA Agreement, will allow us to expand the high level of care we provide within the hospital. The healthcare environment is rapidly changing and we believe further integrating wellness throughout the hospital is a critical component of meeting those challenges,” said Dr. Fady Wanna, Chief Medical Officer for MCCG.

The new menu at MCCG will include a 44 percent reduction of sodium and a 33 percent reduction in calories from traditional fare.  Using the latest research on healthful eating and incorporating techniques that influence behavioral change in food consumption, MCCG  will:

• Offer greater choice to patients, allowing them to order from the same menu, regardless of health condition
• Offer a core menu that fits across four most commonly prescribed diets
• Reduce the percentage of fried foods offered annually
• Offer reduced portion sizes of sugar-sweetened beverages
• Switch to exclusive use of whole grain or legume based pasta
• Offer whole grains as an alternative to rice
• Use misted olive oils exclusively in appropriate applications
• Feature images of healthy nutrient-rich food in its regular marketing promotions

“Rising healthcare costs and lost productivity within the healthcare setting and community are driving the demand for prevention-based programs. By implementing these changes, The Medical Center of Central Georgia continues its leadership position by making healthful choices easy and accessible to their patients, staff and visitors,” explained Tim Pierce, CEO of Morrison Healthcare.