U. of Iowa Hospital simplifies menu to increase quality

March 1—Officials at the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics, in Iowa City, said they've condensed the number of food offerings over the past several years, providing simpler menus to improve the food quality for patients.

"Right around 4:30 p.m., you'll see a herd of people coming through here," said Ray Hernandez, the UIHC nutrition and patient services manager. "It gets busy really fast."

Currently, the UIHC's patient services provide 300 to 400 food options for patients across 36 different menus. Chefs prepare everything from fast-food items such as pizza to healthier options such as hummus and vegetable wraps.

"The taste is different from a restaurant because the food is healthier, but the patients really enjoy it," Hernandez said. "The pizza here is especially a favorite."

Doug Robertson, the senior associate director of UIHC patient services, said the hospital has been paring its options to better cater to patients' cravings.