TAMPA, Fla. — Tampa General Hospital is becoming the first hospital in the country to formally commit to a new federal nutrition initiative focused on healthier meals for patients.
Health and Human Services Secretary (HHS) Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins visited Tampa General on Wednesday as hospital leaders signed the “Make Hospital Food Healthy Again” pledge.
The program promotes nutrition-focused meals and positions food as part of patient care and recovery.
Hospital officials said the initiative expands Tampa General’s push to redesign its patient menu around whole foods and Mediterranean-style meals.
The health system partnered with celebrity chef Geoffrey Zakarian and integrative medicine specialists to create menus centered on nutrient-dense ingredients and fewer processed foods.
According to Tampa General, the updated food program avoids artificial sweeteners and processed ingredients while emphasizing organic produce and locally sourced products.
Kennedy praised the hospital during the visit and encouraged other medical centers to follow suit, arguing hospitals should serve meals that support healing rather than contribute to chronic disease.
Tampa General leaders said the effort is part of a broader strategy to rethink patient care beyond traditional treatment by incorporating nutrition and long-term wellness into recovery plans.
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