Tampa General Hospital (TGH) has become the first hospital in the nation to formally commit to food as medicine by signing the Make Hospital Food Healthy Again pledge.
The pledge challenges hospitals to place nutrition at the center of patient care by aligning meals with evidence-based dietary guidelines to improve patient outcomes, reduce complications and promote healthier communities.
Some of the pledge's nutrition guidelines include limiting processed foods and sugar-sweetened beverages, reducing added sugars in meals, emphasizing whole grains, prioritizing minimally processed proteins, increasing vegetables and healthy fats, and eliminating deep-fried foods.
Several years ago, TGH began enhancing its food services with a revamped menu. The hospital partnered with Chef Geoffrey Zakarian, in 2025, to create a Mediterranean-inspired menu designed to combine science and flavor to support patient recovery.
"Here at Tampa General, we know that food is medicine. What our patients eat directly impacts their health, their recovery and their long-term wellness," said John Couris, president and CEO of Florida Health Sciences Center, in a press release. "By introducing patients to world-class, nutrient-dense, wholesome meals during their stay, we're not only accelerating recovery, but we're giving them the best possible chance at the best possible outcomes. We're also establishing a foundation for healthy eating long after discharge."
The menu was developed by Chef Zakarian in collaboration with Dr. Tanju Sharma of TGH to create meal options backed by evidence-based nutrition.
"Every meal served in a hospital is an opportunity to nourish, to heal and to inspire healthier habits that last well beyond a patient's stay," Zakarian said in a press release. "At Tampa General, we've shown that nutritious food can also be vibrant, delicious and deeply satisfying. It's an honor to partner with a health system that understands food is an essential part of medicine and is setting a new standard for hospitals across the country."
The hospital said its menu already aligns with the principles of the Make Hospital Food Healthy Again pledge by eliminating processed foods, artificial sweeteners and added sugars. It also prioritizes whole foods, organic produce and locally sourced ingredients.