West Palm Beach VA Medical Center

Nutrition and Food Service

Nutrition and Food Services is a fully integrated service for the Miami VA Healthcare System and West Palm Beach VA Medical Center. Service efficiency and effectiveness relies upon the unique sharing of resources between medical centers and a unified direction by a registered dietitian designated as Chief, Nutrition & Food Services. Our service is comprised of two major areas: Clinical Nutrition and Food Service. A cohesive department provides a progressive program for preventive care and Medical Nutrition Therapy. The service is comprised of administrative nutrition staff, registered dietitians, and registered dietetic technicians who are dedicated to providing quality nutrition care, food service, and education to our Veteran's, staff and students.
 
Food Service
 
Nutrition and Food Services takes pride in the care we provide. Staff works together to serve Veterans and all our internal and external customers.  Management's primary function is to enable employees to provide safe, healthy, quality, and satisfying meals. Heart healthy meals, based on the latest Dietary Guidelines are provided to patients and residents admitted to the acute care setting and the Community Living Center. Food Service for out patients and guests are provided by the Veteran Canteen Service (VCS).
 
Inpatient Medical Nutrition Therapy Nutrition
 
Our clinical staff of registered dietitians and dietetic technicians works cooperatively with the interdisciplinary healthcare team to provide optimum nutritional care for our patients and residents. They are responsible for screening each Veteran admitted, assessing those who are nutritional compromised, and providing individualized medical nutrition therapy.
 
Outpatient Medical Nutrition Therapy
 
Nutritional counseling is provided one-on-one or in groups with the registered dietitian and/or interdisciplinary team providers. Any provider can refer a veteran to the nutrition clinic via electronic consults as well as self-referrals are seen. A variety of nutrition classes are available including cardiac, substance abuse, smoking cessation and MOVE (Managing Obesity/Overweight for Veterans Everywhere) program. 

To learn more about the MOVE weight management program, visit the website. Medical Nutrition Therapy is also provided at the various Community Based Outpatient Clinics. Veterans enrolled in the Home Based Primary Outpatient Clinic (HBPC) receive services in their homes.

VA Fresh Pogram

“VA Fresh” is a West Palm Beach VA Medical Center program that both expands access to fresh produce and brings the concepts and goals of Healthy Teaching Kitchen (HTK) out into the communities in which Veterans live through partnerships with local farmers and food pantries. Courtesy of a donated box truck, Registered Dietitian Nutritionists and other nutrition professionals travel to targeted communities such as Veteran transitional and HUD/VASH housing to present VA Fresh events providing donated fresh produce and engaging Veterans in an interactive, hands-on HTK program to educate and inspire them to take control of their health. This promotes healthier eating habits, while maximizing their limited resources.