- May
- 3
- 2018
Reducing sugar to promote healthier choices
As the three year Food and Nutrition Transformation progresses, another big milestone to align our food and beverages with the Northwell Healthy Choice nutrition guidelines, is a shift away from sugary beverages and snacks in our cafeterias and vending machines. Many of our sites have already embraced healthier beverage options, and for the first time ever, nuts and fruits surpassed candy sales in our vending machines. We have a tremendous opportunity to model healthy eating for our patients, families and colleagues.
The changes that are underway reflect input from physicians, nurses, registered dietitians, chefs, administration and wellness experts from throughout Northwell who examined many trends within the healthcare industry and national guidelines for health and nutrition, to adjust our food environment accordingly. As with any transformation, we know we can’t please everyone. We’re always open to hearing your suggestions for improvement, too. As always, our team members have the option to bring in any beverage, snacks or foods they prefer, or continue to utilize the options available at each site.
Why is there so much focus on sugar? Added sugars contribute calories, but no essential nutrients to our diets. Eating and drinking too many foods and beverages with added sugars make it difficult to achieve a healthy eating pattern and maintain our weight. With nearly 60% of adult New Yorkers either obese or overweight, Northwell is doing our part to help you live healthier. Almost half of the added sugars in our diets come from beverages like soda and sports drinks. We’re swapping these drinks with better options such as water, seltzer, 100% juice, low fat milk and unsweetened teas. You’re likely seeing more fresh fruits and healthy snacks like baked chips, fruit/nut mixes, dark chocolate, and low sugar frozen yogurt in our cafeterias and coffee shops, and less novelty candy and ice cream, with an eye on curbing processed sugar.
Juices can have the same or more sugar than sodas. Northwell only serves 100% juices. The sugar in 100% juices comes naturally from the fruit or vegetable from which it was processed. Juices can be high in sugar, but they do offer the nutritional benefit of vitamins, minerals and antioxidant phytonutrients. We also downsized the 100% juice drinks to 12 ounces or smaller to reduce sugar consumption. In 2017, there was a 27% increase in sales of water and seltzer in our vending machines, and an 18% decrease in sugary drink sales.
The American Heart Association strongly recommends limiting added sugars. Too much sugar can lead to weight gain and a string of health problems. Foods and beverages that contain non-nutritive (or diet) sweeteners can be included in a healthy diet, as long as the calories they save are not added back later with more food or sugary drinks. We don’t know for sure if using non-nutritive sweeteners makes people actually eat or drink fewer calories every day. But we do know that reducing the added sugar we consume does. With conflicting studies currently debating the safety and health impact of diet sweeteners, we will offer them 12 ounce sizes or smaller.
We’re adding plain and fruited waters, a variety of naturally flavored seltzers, refreshing beverages containing 100% juice and seltzer, unsweetened and very lightly sweetened teas, cold brew coffees, low fat milks and protein drinks, kombuchas, freshly made fruit smoothies and a selection of smaller sized diet (artificially sweetened) beverages, too.
Look for the Northwell Healthy Choice icon to quickly identify meals and snacks that meet our heart-healthy nutrition criteria, and when you choose other options, you can be confident that we have sourced foods that meet quality standards that are good for your health. Questions? Contact employeewellness@northwell.edu.
im glad that the hospital is implementing this idea but people should be able to decide what they want to eat. diet soda is no better than regular soda am I correct? smaller bottles but not smaller prices. as far as food goes there should be better and more choices. I like the sushi and the Hawaiian on wed I think it is but that can be expensive. the salad bar should be more choices and on Saturday forget there is nothing we do work on Saturday and sundays
DONT FORGET THE WONDER OF PURE COCONUT H20
Coconut water!! YES! So refreshing. Especially this time of year. And it satisfies the sweet craving for a sugary drink! Thanks, Rolando.
Join the discussion (required)But I believe it is high in potassium. They tell the dialysis patients to stay away from it. So some people need to beware. As usual, there’s good and bad in everything.
I understand the need to push for healthy choices, but it’s not a choice if you have no options. Sometimes employees/visitors want that regular cold fountain soda. Charge more, post the ingredients , but give the choice. I’ve heard multiple visitors and staff complain about it. I’m just glad to see chocolate back in the gift shop.