New hospital menus for Central West Health – from left Dietitian Sophie Gouveia, Longreach Hospital cook Sue Milligan and Operational Services Supervisor Tracey Green, with the new menus.
Those ancients knew a thing or two about the links between nutrition and good health.
In the 4th century BCE, both Greek philosopher Plato and Hippocrates of Kos, traditionally referred to as the "Father of Medicine", had something to say about it.
Plato said to eat is a necessity, but to eat intelligently is an art.
While Hippocrates is alleged to have remarked: "Let food be thy medicine and thy medicine be food".
Central West Hospital and Health Service dietitian Sophie Gouveia is in total agreement.
She has been busy developing a recipe book that offers a wide range of meals that meet national nutrition standards and taste great.
Hospital inpatients, multipurpose health service aged care residents, and Meals on Wheels recipients around the Central West will all benefit from the delicious and nutritious new menu.
It’s the first full Central West Health menu review in more than 10 years.
“We are far more aware these days about people’s dietary restrictions and food allergies – such as gluten and dairy intolerances, as well as nut and other intolerances,’’ Ms Gouveia said.
“There’s also an increasing adoption of dietary preferences such as vegetarianism and veganism and, of course, there are also various dietary restrictions that a patient may have as a result of specific medical advice.
“A modern day menu and today’s hospital kitchens have to have the capacity and flexibility to meet a very wide range of dietary needs.
“So while we offer standard menu items and standardised recipes so that all hospitals in the region can be on the same page, we also have the flexibility to meet various dietary preferences and requirements.
“Another priority in revamping our menus was variety.
“When we did our consultation with consumers, the feedback, particularly from Meals on Wheels and aged care residents at our multipurpose health services, who are regular daily recipients of our meals, was that they were tired of the old menu and wanted new options.
“That’s what we hope to have achieved with our menu overhaul.
“I’d like to thank our Central West communities for their feedback, which helped update the menu to meet the needs of our patients in 2025.
“We are fortunate to have incredible kitchen staff that can bring these dishes to life, so a big thank you to them as well.”