Caregivers with Monument Health in Rapid City, South Dakota, were able to get a first taste of the bold new flavors coming to their hospital. The Morrison Healthcare Food and Nutrition Services team hosted a New Patient Menu Expo, inviting hospital staff to sample a fresh lineup of patient-centered dishes.
Attendees tasted options like Sweet Heat Buffalo Chicken Salad, Pressed Cuban Sandwich, Butter Chicken Bowl, Chicken Tortilla Soup, and a decadent Chocolate Mug Cake dessert.
The expo wasn’t just a food tasting; it was the unveiling of years of culinary research, testing, and collaboration with clinical teams—the goal: to elevate the patient dining experience.
“A lot of thought, research, and development went into the menu,” said Peter McQuiston, System Director of Food and Nutrition Services. “Our goal is to create a restaurant experience with restaurant-quality food while still adhering to all the metrics and guidelines for our patients’ prescribed diets.”
Monument Health was selected as one of the pilot sites for this national initiative, giving them early access to a patient menu that prioritizes wellness without compromising taste. The recipes were thoughtfully developed to reduce sodium and fat while still delivering robust, satisfying flavors.
“The most important thing that we accomplish with this menu is to nourish patients and reduce their stays, get them healthy and back home,” McQuiston said. “In the past, we’ve focused a lot on our retail offerings, like the Nourish Café, and we still have that passion for the Monument Health team. But it was time to bring that same energy and innovation to the patient menu.”
While the new recipes are designed with patients in mind, staff and guests won’t be left out. Popular items will appear as limited-time offers throughout the year in various foodservice locations.
“We’ll have limited-time offerings at one point or another throughout the year, especially if we’re trying to highlight a special occasion,” said McQuiston. “The Pumpkin Cheesecake Parfait, for instance. That’s a limited-time offering that will only be available in October.”
The whole patient menu launched over the summer, ushering in a new era of hospital dining. Morrison Healthcare is proud to support Monument Health in delivering food that fuels recovery and uplifts the patient experience.
