UW Health’s culinary services department has about 300 full-time workforce. | Image courtesy of UW Overall health
The culinary crew at College of Wisconsin Well being (UW Wellness) would like to alter the stigma close to healthcare facility food.
“Food in just a healthcare procedure is not regarded to be necessarily delicious or craveable, anything that you would really find out,” explained Amy Mihm, medical nutrition expert at UW Wellness. “And we wanted to change that product.”
The hospital system takes a holistic tactic to foodservice and aims make its cafeterias a welcoming location for diners.
“For years, we have talked about getting the healthier preference be the uncomplicated selection and the very best price tag preference,” claimed Lisa Bote, supervisor of culinary products and services. “We want to make the procedure a place where by our shoppers want to appear and consume.”
The crew functions across two departments—culinary solutions and medical nutrition services, serving three hospitals in UW Health’s process. Culinary products and services will work in two output kitchens, driven by about 300 entire-time workforce, although clinical nourishment serves inpatient and outpatient grown ups and pediatrics.
In addition, UW Well being has a milk and components lab on web page and a mastering kitchen area at just one of its hospitals.
“So, we truly have a unique, I imagine, problem where by we have the complete lifecycle,” explained Megan Waltz, director of culinary expert services and medical nourishment companies.
Feeding a assorted population
The method prides itself on serving a diversified menu to account for the range in the populace it serves.
In 2023, UW Overall health gained its 3rd Exercise Greenhealth Circles of Excellence award, which evaluates how health care methods are selling and developing their sustainable food items programs. Lawson explained one of the locations the group was recognized for was serving foodstuff that depict its staff’s cultures.
“We count a large amount on our possess staff members, because of the variety of the staff, to truly bring ideas to us about factors that would be excellent possibilities to increase,” said Waltz.
Previous year, UW Health