The word “hospital food” usually conjures up images of mushy meatloaf and watery Jell-O, but some medical centers are getting creative with their menus. For example, a New York hospital offers wealthy patients the option to upgrade to a penthouse suite with a butler, high-thread count sheets, and an impressive array of dining options that include mushroom risotto and tomato.

In the US, food safety is a huge priority in hospitals. Sadly, that also means that the food served to patients is not always as healthy as it could be. A recent survey from the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine found that many hospitals serve foods that are high in fat, sugar, salt, and calories. That is why a few of the more health-conscious facilities are taking the time to make their menus healthier.

One such facility is Emory Healthcare in Georgia. Their culinary team has been making great strides in moving away from a meat-heavy menu to more plant-based options. Emory has even partnered with local farms and worked to incorporate dishes that are more reflective of current trends in cooking and cuisine, like a Moroccan vegetable tagine or garden Bolognese with rigatoni.

While Emory’s move towards more nutritious meals is inspiring, it would be nice to see more medical institutions across the country making their menus healthier. After all, a hospital’s mission is not just to save lives in times of emergency, it is also meant to heal. Providing nutritious, well-rounded food to patients is one way to help them feel better during and after their hospital stay.

A big reason that patients lose weight and suffer from malnutrition while in the hospital is because they are not eating enough. Whether it is due to the stress of being in an unfamiliar environment, missing family and friends, or the discomforts of a medical procedure, it can be easy for patients to lose their appetite. Unfortunately, when they are not eating enough, their bodies are unable to recover.

In addition to increasing their caloric intake, patients also need protein and other nutrients to heal. It is important for hospitals to offer a variety of different options so that their patients have the best chance of meeting these nutritional needs. Often, hospitals are not meeting these goals because their food suppliers are only concerned with making money and not about serving health-promoting foods.

It is vital for hospitals to work with their food suppliers and encourage them to provide more nutritious, well-rounded meals. This will not only benefit the patients who are staying in the hospital but will also help the broader community, society, and the planet. This is why hospitals should work to get better food on their menus so that they can continue to be healing and educational spaces for their communities.