Patients are the real winners in this hospital food fight

June 13—Nutrition was the focus of the second annual Hospital Food Fight on April 22, an event that benefited Stillwater Cancer Support Services. Elmbrook Memorial faced off against Aurora Healthcare's Summit Medical Center, ProHealth Care's Waukesha Memorial and ProHealth Care's Oconomowoc Memorial. Not only did Elmbrook win best dish with its paella de marisco, it also won the people's choice award.

Each dish had to meet the American Dietetic Association's nutritional guidelines and cost less than $5.

Hospital food is not what is used to be, said Pat Kempen, director of the Nutrition Services Department at Wheaton Franciscan. Elmbrook has worked for years to overcome the hospital food stereotype.

Sean Durbin, area chef for Wheaton Franciscan, and his team put a great deal of thought into the food they serve at Elmbrook Hospital every single day.