TBRHSC Pilots Cafeteria Program

OntarioNewsNorth.com Feed

November 12^th, 2023----------------------------------------------------CLICK HERE for OntarioNewsNorth.com advertising information. ---------------------------------------------------

TBRHSC Pilots Cafeteria Program

Written by admin on 31 January 2011

Andrée Robichaud, TBRHSC President & CEO, Kim McKibbon, TBDHU Dietitian, Cathy Paroschy Harris, TBRHSC Manager Nutrition & Food Services, Scott Potts, TBRHSC Sr. VP Corporate Services and Operations. Photo courtesy TBDHU.

Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre Piloting Cafeteria Program

THUNDER BAY, ON – Starting today, employees, patients and visitors to the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) will be seeing more healthy options in their cafeteria and the cafeteria vending machine as it participates in an Eat Smart! pilot study of the new provincial Cafeteria Eat Smart! standards.

The TBRHSC cafeteria is one of only 9 in the province helping to evaluate the new standards which emphasize: lowering prices on healthier food options, positioning healthy food choices so they are clearly visible, and doing more promotion of the healthy options. The new standards also apply to vending machines.

Some changes that patrons and staff will see include: healthier foods moved to the front of the cafeteria where they are more visible; 100% fruit juices offered in smaller serving sizes; daily specials which incorporate at least 3 of 4 food groups; and the vending machine will be selling fruit juices at a lower cost than pop.

“We are proud to implement such an important program at the TBRHSC,” said CEO Andrée Robichaud. “In addition to our Patient and Family Centred Care model, we are focusing on the healthy opportunities to visitors and staff, by creating an environment that promotes healthy options and educates patrons at the same time. Our ultimate goal is to help our staff and visitors improve their health. Benefiting from the expertise of our management partnership with Sodexo, Eat Smart! and our ongoing promotions will help to educate anyone who eats in our cafeteria and entice them to make healthier food choices at every meal.”

At today’s kick-off, staff and patrons of the TBRHSC cafeteria taste-tested healthy meals, played nutrition games and were challenged to compare cafeteria items to determine which ones are healthier. In February the cafeteria will be promoting the Eat Smart! choices by running promotions to increase the consumption of vegetables, fruit, whole grains, and healthier beverage and snack choices. The Health Unit will be working with TBRHSC to implement more changes in the weeks to follow.

“We are excited that TBRHSC has agreed to help the Health Unit pilot the new Eat Smart! Workplace Cafeteria Standards“ says Kim McGibbon, public health dietitian. “This means that for their staff and clients purchasing food, the healthy choice is now easier to make.”