Ochsner Health expands Eat Fit program systemwide

Ochsner is paving the way for healthier, more affordable food in healthcare by expanding Eat Fit options across its hospitals and clinics.

NEW ORLEANS - Ochsner Health is expanding Ochsner Eat Fit options systemwide to make nutritious food easier to find and more affordable across its facilities. Building on the long-standing Eat Fit initiative, the health system is increasing the visibility and availability of Eat Fit menu items while offering qualifying options at up to 50% off standard retail pricing.

The initiative spans dining and retail spaces throughout Ochsner facilities, from cafés and micro-markets to beverage and food vending machines, ensuring that patients, employees, visitors and guests can easily identify and choose Eat Fit options.

“For more than 80 years, Ochsner Health has worked to inspire healthier lives and build stronger communities,” said Robert Hart, MD, chief physician executive, Ochsner Health and president, Ochsner Clinic. “Eat Fit has been a trusted guide for nutritious dining options in restaurants and food venues across the region for more than a decade. Expanding the initiative within Ochsner facilities and lowering the cost of those options is an important step in creating an environment that makes it easier for everyone who walks through our doors to make choices that support their wellbeing.”

Ochsner and its Eat Fit program are leading hospital nutrition innovation, with the organization among the only large-scale hospital systems nationally implementing an initiative to expand access to nutritious options and reduce price barriers systemwide. Qualifying Eat Fit items are offered at reduced prices, up to 50% off standard retail pricing and in some cases at cost.

Early data from the program’s first six months of implementation shows strong momentum. Eat Fit sales in Ochsner cafeterias increased by 75% systemwide, with several locations seeing Eat Fit items account for as much as 33–36% of total cafeteria sales and continuing to grow. Increased purchases of Eat Fit-approved beverages led to a reduction of approximately 3,300 pounds of added sugar consumed in the third quarter of 2025 alone.

To better understand the program’s long-term impact, Ochsner is partnering with researchers at Tulane University and Xavier University of Louisiana. Over the next three years, the research team will analyze purchasing patterns and other data to evaluate how increased visibility, greater availability and reduced pricing influence food choices in healthcare settings. 

“Ochsner is setting a powerful example of what it means for a health system to truly align its environment with its mission,” said Molly Kimball, RD, CSSD, director, Ochsner Eat Fit. “Making nutritious foods easy to find, appealing and affordable reflects a genuine commitment to helping people feel their best – whether they’re here for care, work or supporting someone they love.”

The initiative is supported by partnerships with Ochsner’s food and beverage providers Morrison Healthcare, Canteen One, and Coca-Cola, which worked closely with the Eat Fit team to identify items within their product portfolios that meet Eat Fit nutrition standards. The commitment is also reflected in vendor agreements, ensuring the initiative remains integrated into foodservice operations across Ochsner facilities.

Visitors and employees can look for the Eat Fit seal throughout Ochsner dining and retail spaces, such as cafés, micro-markets, and beverage and food vending machines, to easily identify qualifying items and save significantly on Eat Fit options.

To learn more about Eat Fit options across Ochsner facilities, download the Eat Fit app, where users can explore participating locations, view nutrition information and discover additional Eat Fit options at restaurants throughout the region.

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Media contact: pr@ochsner.org