Eat Fit Acadiana

A study by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention found that St. Martin Parish has one of the highest heart disease rates in the state.

A Community Health Needs Assessment was then conducted with residents of the parish with the majority of respondents wanting to focus on health behaviors and preventative care to improve the overall health of themselves and the community. This response prompted our team to create the Road to Good Health program – a six week education series focused on healthy eating and building healthy habits.

A healthy diet and lifestyle are your best weapons to fight cardiovascular disease. It’s the overall pattern of your choices that count. Take simple steps for long-term benefits to your health and your heart. St. Martin Hospital is continually working towards promoting healthy lifestyles to employees, patients and the community.

In an effort to focus on healthy eating, we are pleased to announce, as an added bonus to our employees and patients, St. Martin Hospital has chosen to combat this disturbing statistic by being the first Lafayette General Health (LGH) site to partner with Eat Fit Acadiana. Eat Fit is a program that encourages chefs to offer nutritious, delicious meals for those who want to eat clean, watch their weight and manage certain health issues. Eat Fit started at Ochsner Health System in 2013. After much success it collaborated with Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation of Louisiana to expand statewide.

Eat Fit Acadiana’s mission is to combine the community’s passion for good food with their zest for life and enjoying time with friends and family. Eat Fit items meet the nutrition guidelines of the Ochsner Eat Fit team, and are centered on lean proteins, vegetables, plant-based fats and whole grains – with no white carbs, minimal added sugar and animal fats.

Each day, St. Martin Hospital’s cafeteria will offer at least one Eat Fit Acadiana meal for its employees and patients. The principles of choosing healthier options like fresh fruits and vegetables, lean chicken and turkey, boneless pork loin, brown rice and sweet potatoes as well as dry beans and lentils will be utilized in menu planning. In addition, we are committed to supporting and promoting the “Eat Local” principle by offering local Gulf caught shrimp and Community Coffee with our menus.

These added initiatives in tandem with our award winning wellness program Road to Good Health will assist us with helping the employees and patients of St. Martin Hospital recognize the issues we face with food choices and give viable, easy to use alternatives.