San Diego hospital focused on making food tasty

SAN DIEGO — When you think of hospitals, tasty food doesn’t usually come to mind — whether it's dining choices in the cafeteria or for patients — but hospitals throughout San Diego County are trying to change that reputation.

Take San Diego's Sharp Memorial Hospital, where chefs and cooks are working to dish out healthy and delicious food.

You won’t find fried chicken or a glazed donut in the hospital's cafeteria. Instead, you’ll find displays of fresh fruit and a big salad bar.

And the entrees? How about pot roast with seasoned vegetables, or citrus and herb crusted salmon?

“I hire executive chefs, just like restaurants and hotels," said Lauren Blacker, Sharp's district manager. "Why should our food not be amazing because we’re a hospital?”

Blacker, a registered dietician, has helped transform the menus at Sharp through a partnership with Sodexo, a food service company.

It’s been a five-year journey.

Early on, Sharp decided to toss out the salt and sugar and bypass processed food. Now, it’s all about using fresh herbs and spices. Nearly 30 percent of the hospital's produce is from local growers.

Hospital Cuisine No Longer An Oxymoron

Blacker said she wants to motivate and inspire people to make healthy choices.

“And in a burger, maybe the burger that we’re encouraging you to enjoy is local, antibiotic-free, sustainable," she said. "And we’re saying, you know, today, instead of getting French fries with that, why don’t you get baked Lays (chips) or a side of vegetables?”

Sharp’s efforts are part of a national campaign to improve the health and sustainability of the health care sector, called the Healthier Hospitals Initiative.

The initiative encourages hospitals to set an example by serving healthy food and drinks. That includes reducing the amount of meat and sugary beverages, and increasing the percentage of locally grown food.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture says healthier diets might prevent $71 billion in medical costs each year.

A USDA report also says American diets are associated with a number of chronic illnesses, including heart disease, cancer and obesity.