Bloomfield Health Services in Rathfarnham in Dublin, took the highest accolade, the Gold award, in this year’s Irish Heart Foundation Happy Heart Healthy Eating Award programme.
The healthcare charity, which provides treatment and support to adults with enduring mental health needs - with specialist services for Huntington's Disease - won the award in recognition of the exceptional standard of catering at its south county Dublin hospital facility.
The Happy Heart Healthy Eating Award is a unique health promotion programme created by the Irish Heart Foundation to deliver best in class catering within healthcare services. It reflects the importance of good food preparation and eating habits to support and encourage cardiovascular health and wellness among both patients and staff.
Food service providers are challenged with adopting healthier cooking practices and food choices, without incurring substantial cost.
Accepting the Gold Healthy Eating award, Joe Kelly, CEO of Bloomfield Health Services, paid tribute to Compass Ireland, who operate the hospital catering facility onsite.
“We made a commitment to provide healthier, tastier food choices to staff, patients and visitors, and our partnership with Compass Ireland has seen that happen. Their innovative team consistently serve up healthy menu choices, seasonal fresh ingredients and healthier cooking practices to ensure everyone eats well and feels better for it.”
Eating well at Bloomfield involves food choices within the recommended serving size, low fat, low salt and low sugar ingredients, and a focus on high-fibre fruit, vegetables, wholegrains and pulses, as well as on fish dishes and other healthy proteins.
Jonny Davis, Regional Operations Manager for Compass Group, says eating well means tastier and more varied options, freshly prepared, that instantly boost and help maintain energy levels.
“We know we play an important role with the food we serve daily. As the body’s fuel, our ingredients need to be pure and nourishing. Serving nutritionally-balanced, seasonal meals that look and taste great, makes healthy eating choices easier for everyone in Bloomfield.
“We are proud to have supported the team here in achieving their gold award, and delighted that the positive culture of health and wellbeing in the hospital restaurant is being recognised.”
The Irish Heart Foundation and HSE Happy Heart Healthy Eating Awards highlight the important role that caterers in HSE hospitals, workplaces, nursing homes and community and disability services play in nutritional health and the prevention of obesity and associated illness.
Compass Ireland is one of the country’s biggest foodservice providers and has worked with Bloomfield Health Services in Dublin in a long-standing partnership of over 20 years. A dedicated team of eighteen catering staff is retained to support the hospital mission of serving healthy foods, offering great choice and taste.
