UCI Health to bring healthier food options to patients, visitors and staff with a new chef-based culinary program

Chef Jet Tila from the Food Network to help open new services at UCI Medical Center

Starting April 1, UCI Health will launch a chef-based culinary program, providing a new level of healthy dining experience for patients, visitors and staff.  

“The proper food can make a big difference in a person’s life — it can affect how they feel, how they live and contribute to their overall health” said Chad Lefteris, chief operating officer of UCI Health. “As a progressive health system, UCI Health is moving to a chef-based culinary model focused on quality food and ingredients, caring for ourselves and our patients by providing healthier alternatives that help the healing process.”

Along with updated menus and improvements to the physical layout of the Tony and Daisy Fan Dining Room at the UCI Medical Center, patients and visitors will notice more healthy food choices, as well as ethnically diverse food options. An entirely new patient menu program will be implemented, focused on scratch cooking, fresh ingredients and healthy options made to order and delivered by our room service-like team. 

Morrison Healthcare is now the official food and nutrition vendor for UCI Health. To open its new dining room and preview Morrison’s improvements, UCI Health will host a grand opening from noon to 2 p.m. on Monday, April 1 on the patio of the Tony & Daisy Fan Dining Room.

The event will feature a variety of stations where attendees can try new foods, win prizes and learn about the new patient food program.

UCI Health also welcomes celebrity chef, Chef Jet Tila from the Food Network, who will host cooking demonstrations at noon and 1 p.m. Attendees can also meet and greet Chef Jet after each demo. 

“UCI Health is committed to being the best place to give and get care. The highest level of quality care includes a culinary and nutrition program that supports healing, and nourishes us all as caregivers,” said Lefteris. “With our new partner, we will continue to evolve and refine our approach to unleash the power of food to promote better health outcomes.”

Morrison Healthcare is part of Compass Group North America, the world’s largest Food and Support Services Company. Morrison Healthcare provides specialized patient food and nutrition in 700-plus locations with more than 65 years of healthcare experience. Morrison Healthcare understands our desire to encourage healthy lifestyles for employees, and the impact food can have on an individual’s well-being.

UCI Health comprises the clinical enterprise of the University of California, Irvine. Patients can access UCI Health at primary and specialty care offices across Orange County and at its main campus, UCI Medical Center in Orange, California. The 417-bed acute care hospital provides tertiary and quaternary care, ambulatory and specialty medical clinics, and behavioral health and rehabilitation services. UCI Medical Center features Orange County’s only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center, high-risk perinatal/neonatal program and American College of Surgeons-verified Level I adult and Level II pediatric trauma center and regional burn center. UCI Health serves a region of nearly 4 million people in Orange County, western Riverside County and southeast Los Angeles County. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.