Radboudumc’s policy on healthy eating has received an unexpected amount of media attention in recent days. As a hospital, a training and research institute, and a major employer, we at Radboudumc want to contribute to more years of high-quality, healthy life—not only for our patients, but also for our colleagues and students.
Our society and living environment are rapidly becoming less healthy: more and more people are suffering from one or even multiple chronic lifestyle-related conditions. That is why we encourage healthy living and working habits among our employees, prevent absenteeism, and thereby improve access to healthcare. As early as 2021, we began offering healthy food options in our cafeteria, and our campus has been alcohol-free; since March 2025, it has also been smoke-free. Offering nutritious food aligns with these developments and is a logical next step.
More healthy years of life, for everyone
Prevention is central to Radboudumc’s approach to health—not only for patients, students, and society at large, but just as much for its own employees. “This is what we stand for as an institution,” says Bertine Lahuis, chair of the Radboudumc Board of Directors. “And if you stand for something, you have to be willing to actively promote it. We do this every day, in various ways, and it’s reflected in the choices we make as an academic medical center.”
A thoughtfully selected range of foods
“Radboudumc complies with the guidelines of the Dutch Nutrition Center’s ‘Wheel of Five’ and the ‘Eating Environment’ guidelines,” says Manon van den Berg, a dietitian and nutrition expert at Radboudumc and a member of the Nutrition Expert Team and the Nutrition Core Team, which were established by the UMC to maintain focus on these areas.
The food offerings for employees, visitors, and patients have been carefully curated with a single goal in mind: food that contributes to good health, better recovery, a sustainable society, and a responsible lifestyle.
During Vitality Week (September 14–18), we will therefore be offering colleagues food tastings accompanied by background information on the dishes and healthy eating; a dietitian will be present at each event.
Room for personal choices
According to the academic medical center, Radboudumc’s promotion of healthy eating stems directly from its own position. “After all, we are a university medical center, and as such, we have a responsibility to set a good example.” That does not mean, however, that everyone is told what to eat. Lahuis: “What we emphasize is that, as a university medical center, we believe we should promote and offer only healthy food. Our colleagues and patients are, of course, free to make their own choices in this regard.”
A society that is becoming less healthy
This stance did not come out of nowhere. Our society and living environment are rapidly becoming less healthy, and more and more people are dealing with one or even multiple chronic lifestyle-related conditions. Radboudumc sees the consequences of this every day within its own walls.
That is why various initiatives have been launched to raise patients’ awareness of their lifestyle and to work together to identify areas for improvement. For some, this means ensuring a better starting point for major surgery; for others, it involves adjusting their diet to help the body recover. We encourage the best choice, but of course, the patient makes the final decision.
Pressure on the healthcare system
There is also a social aspect to this story. Encouraging healthy lifestyle and work habits among employees helps prevent absenteeism and contributes to the accessibility of healthcare, which is coming under increasing pressure. That is why Radboudumc, as an extension of its commitment to health, also places a strong emphasis on good nutrition, vitality, and prevention.
Together with partners
Radboudumc does not do this alone; it collaborates with, among others, its catering partner, Groen, Gezond en in Beweging, and is affiliated with the Alliantie Voeding in de zorg: Goede Zorg Proef Je.
Want to learn more about Radboudumc’s policies and vision regarding health, good nutrition, and the choices made in these areas? Then visit Goede voeding proef je
Vitality Week
Together with our partner and in-house caterer Vermaat, we’re offering colleagues tasting sessions during Vitality Week (September 14–18), complete with background information on the dishes and healthy eating.
For each featured dish, we’ll highlight the nutritional value of the ingredients—including information on fiber, vitamins, protein, and healthy fats—and explain how these nutrients can benefit your health.
We’ll also explain how good nutrition can boost your energy levels, improve your concentration, and help you stay productive over the long term—both during the day and on night shifts. Our colleagues from the Dietetics department are available day and night to answer any questions about healthy eating.
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