Nutritional Services

Martin General Hospital offers a variety of nutritional services, from healthy food options in our cafeteria to nutritional assessments, counseling and consultations, all designed to help our patients and our community be healthy.

With a physician's referral, we provide nutritional counseling to help you manage diabetes, high cholesterol and other dietary needs.

Making healthier food choices, the southern way

For a healthier diet, base your meals on natural, unprocessed foods like fresh fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, low fat dairy products and lean meats. Eating a fresh, natural diet may reduce your risk of heart disease, certain cancers and diabetes, and it also aids in weight loss.

We recommend that you choose lean meat cuts and remove the skin before cooking. It's also a good idea to get at least two servings of fish per week. Calcium fortified foods such as soy and orange juice can provide calcium for those who are lactose intolerant. Nuts are also a good way to get calcium into your diet but you should eat them in moderation.

In general, you should stay away from fried food—sautéing, barbequing, steaming and baking are all great cooking methods that reduce fat content. You should use non-fat cooking spray in place of heavy cooking oils or lard. Healthy diets are also low in sugar, so stay away from soft drinks, sweet tea, candy and desserts.

Healthy eating begins in the home but should also be followed when eating out. The key to success is making a habit out of eating well at every meal.