With boost from foundation, CAMC serving local, healthy food

CHARLESTON, N.C.—Among its four hospitals, Charleston Area Medical Center serves 2.5 million meals a year — or, as Mike Marinaro sees it, 2.5 million opportunities to positively influence the eating habits of West Virginians.

Marinaro, the general manager of nutrition services for the hospitals, said that CAMC began developing new menu items and recipes more than a year ago to better serve the needs of the community. To that end, CAMC developed its “Great Living Menu,” and with the help of the Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation, began the search for local growers to supply the hospitals with fresh produce and herbs.

“We can really change people’s eating habits by having this available,” Marinaro said. “We knew this was the right thing to do for our community.”