Cafeteria

Two years ago, Kaiser Permanente Nutritional Services Managers and Kaiser Permanente dietitians developed a regional wellness initiative described in the 2004 Kaiser Permanente Comprehensive Food Policy. The Healthy Picks initiative is one of the many programs resulting from this policy. The Healthy Picks vision is: “To Offer Foods That Support Good Health and Contribute to the Sustainability of Our Environment.” Kaiser Permanente registered dietitians have set detailed nutritional standards for the healthy choices featured in this program. For example, healthy selections will have no more than 35% calories as fat and no more than 10% saturated fat. Healthy snack items may contain no more than 400 mg of sodium. Fresh fruit, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes/beans will be offered on a regular daily basis. Protein must be a lean protein source, such as fish, chicken, turkey, tofu, legumes or beans.

In keeping with the proposed and future changes detailed in these programs, the Kaiser Permanente Santa Rosa Healthy Food Choices Team received innovation grant funding to upgrade the food in the cafeteria. We contracted with healthy foods chef and registered dietitian, Jill Nussinow, MS, RD, to help our cafeteria implement the Healthy Picks program. She first helped the cafeteria vastly upgrade and expand the salad bar. Jill also developed new healthy choice entrees, soups, sandwiches, breakfast items, snacks, drinks, and dessert offerings. Additionally, feedback from a Santa Rosa cafeteria survey provided a foundation for many of these improved changes as well as future enhancements to come.

Menu pricing has increased slightly on the majority of menu offerings. Through the process of reviewing and revising the menu, the Healthy Food Choices Team evaluated what has been pricing on many menu offerings that haven’t changed dating back to five years. The cafeteria simply can’t sustain their business without passing on food costs to us, the customers.

You stare at the vending machine wondering what to get, and all you see is sugar, saturated fat, and more sugar. Well, now snacking just got a lot healthier.

The Ripe Choice That’s Ready For Picking

Kids who eat right are more alert in school. The same goes for adults, who need energy to get through the day. If you know which foods to eat, you’re a step closer to keeping your body strong and your mind fresh. Our Healthy Picks program is just one of the ways we’re helping you think about nutrition.

When you’re at the vending machines at our hospitals and medical offices, more than half of the offerings will be healthy choices. All Healthy Picks items meet standards set by Kaiser Permanente dietitians. With more healthy snacks and drinks to choose from, being a picky eater just got easier.

Thought For Food

Eating a low-fat diet that includes whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy products can lower your risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, and diabetes.

Finding Balance in Your Meals

With Healthy Picks, you can make smarter food decisions in your everyday life, helping move towards a more balanced diet. Here are more tips on how to eat a balanced meal:

• Think lean. Pick protein sources that are lean – fish, chicken, turkey, legumes, bean, and low or non-fat cheese and milk. Limit fats to less than 30 percent of your total daily calories.
• Good fat – bad fat. Choose foods with the right kinds of fat – canola, soybean, and olive oils – instead of products made from trans fat oils.
• Yes to carbs. Eat complex carbohydrates that are high in fiber – whole grain breads, cereals, rice, pasta, and plenty of fruits, and vegetables.
• Cut out the preservatives. Choose more fresh foods, rather than preserved foods that contain high levels of salt.
• Less is more. Eat smaller portions. And choose foods that provide lots of vitamins and nutrients with fewer calories such as fresh vegetables.

Introducing Healthy Picks

You stare at the vending machine wondering what to get, and all you see is sugar, saturated fat, and more sugar. Well, now snacking just got a lot healthier. With our Healthy Picks program, we’ve added healthier choices to your snacking experience. Choose an apple or a bag of low-sodium nuts. Pick a salad. Feel good about what you’re putting in your body. Because eating well is one of the best ways to help yourself live well.

Look For the Healthy Picks Symbol

When you see our Healthy Picks sticker, you’ll know that the fruit, sandwich, or cold drink you’re buying is good for your health. You’ll see the Healthy Picks sticker on prepared items such as sandwiches and salads, on display charts identifying healthy options, and on rows of healthy snacks.

Foods meeting the Healthy Picks criteria include:

• lean protein sources, such as turkey, chicken, tofu, legumes or beans
• whole or cut fresh fruit; canned fruits in juice
• pre-made salads or cut vegetables served with non-fat or low-fat dressings
• whole grain breads and cereals
• 1% or non-fat dairy products, including milk, yogurt, cottage cheese

And contain no more than:

• 35% of calorie as fat (excluding nuts)
• 10% of calories as saturated fats (excluding nuts)
• 35% of total weight from sugar
• 400mg of sodium per package (snacks)
• 1000mg of sodium per entrée (meals)

Equally as important to improving the quality of food offered in the cafeteria, the Healthy Food Choices Team addressed the topic of the “sustainability of our environment”. What kind of environment do we want to leave for our children and our children’s children?

With your feedback and support, we requested the cafeteria to change all Styrofoam products to paper, which they did. Unfortunately, biodegradable paper products cost more up front, but in the long run, will positively impact our land-fill and overall environment.

The Comprehensive Food Policy requests that vendors supply Kaiser Permanente “with food that is, among other attributes, produced without synthetic pesticides and hormones or antibiotics given to animals in the absence of diagnosed disease.” We have found a Humboldt County supplier of organic grass-fed beef (Eel River Organic Beef) which has been raised entirely without pesticides, hormones, or unnecessary antibiotics.

Grass-fed beef generally is lower in total fat and saturated fat than conventionally raised beef. Chicken and turkey selections will also be organic or as natural as we can get them.

Kaiser Regional Therapeutic Lifestyle Change (TLC) recommendations for healthy eating include “a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, whole grains, and omega-3 fatty acids.” Dr. Michael Jacobson, executive director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, similarly advocates a transition toward a plant-based diet but adds the perspective of environmental sustainability and animal welfare. These concerns are echoed in the Comprehensive Food Policy.

Because of this, our goal is to offer a plate containing a whole grain, fresh vegetable, and tasty sauce as well as the expanded salad bar every day. Rounding out this month’s healthy improvements will be brown rice, brown and wild rice, quinoa or Bhutanese red rice with freshly cooked seasonal veggies and a choice of sauce which may include sweet and sour, cashew cream, fresh marinara or other sauce.

Look for the Healthy Picks symbol on the new menu to identify food choices that meet the nutritional standards developed by Kaiser Permanente dietitians.

We are happy to finally launch this next phase of changes. Please use the suggestion box in the cafeteria to let us know what you think of the new menu offerings and share with us ideas for future changes.