UCSF Nutrition & Food Services prides itself on providing patients and customers with a variety of delicious, healthy options and complete information about the food we serve. Our chefs and culinary experts endeavor to provide fresh, flavorful and wholesome food in a timely manner; with extensive nutritional information at the point of purchase, so our customers can make informed decisions.
Dietitians review recipes for accuracy and nutritional value, using exact measurements to comply with physician-prescribed diets. Nutritional information is publicly posted on digital boards and receipts, signage, web menus, and our web site. Patient selections must comply with physicians orders, which are included in the electronic record: Patients are not presented with food items they cannot have, and if patients place an order by phone, the assisting staff person has the medical information to make sure patients do not order outside of their diet.
Introducing Smart Choice!
Smart Choice is the food wellness awareness program at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). The program was developed by UCSF Medical Center Department of Nutrition & Food Services and the UCSF Campus Life Services - Retail in March 2009 with the goal to promote healthy eating among UCSF retail food consumers.
The program has two main objectives:
- Increase consumers’ awareness of nutrient content of foods by providing nutrition facts, labeling, and icons.
- Increase consumers’ likelihood of buying healthy items via promotion of healthy items (i.e. incentives).
How to identify Smart Choice items:
- Entrees/meals meeting the following criteria will be identified with a Smart Choice icon on a menu sign or “cling” at the serving areas. If the item is packaged, the icon may also be placed directly on the package.
- Smart Choice criteria are summarized in an easy-to-read format and posted in café area.
- Specific nutrition facts for Smart Choice items are available to customers, posted in café and are available in writing. This web site will provide links to nutrition information in the future.
The Smart Choice nutrition criteria are based on health maintenance and disease prevention. Customers with existing health problems, such as obesity, diabetes, or hypertension, may need to adhere to more stringent criteria than offered by our program. As with any public health promotion, our guidelines are general rather than specific. We encourage customers with specific health concerns to meet with a registered dietitian for individualized counseling and meal planning. For more information see our standards for meals, beverages, and our vending.