The Hospital Menu as a Tool for Nutrition Education for Patients, Healthcare Workers, and the Broader Hospital Community.

Abstract

In this perspective we describe our experience in developing a novel approach to delivering nutrition education through the hospital patient menu to a broad audience. Using an evolving, themed 'weekly specials' patient menu, unique nutrition education materials were developed across a range of topics, aligned with menu themes to be delivered to patients, staff and the broader community. The current strategy has successfully been implemented over a 3 year period. It has been driven by a series of patient menus showcasing nutritious, varied and sustainable nutrients and ingredients accompanied by a diverse range of education mediums including in-service education sessions for staff, printed nutrition education materials for patients and social-media messaging for the broader community. We are unaware of any other hospital (or institution) that consistently draws on their core patient menu to inspire and educate staff and the broader community. Opportunities for application in other institutions such as schools and worksites are evident.