HOSPITAL FOOD CATERING SERVICES

 

Apple Slices for Hospital Food Catering

Will an apple a day keep the doctor away? The short answer is yes. Apples are a healthy choice for all ages to incorporate into their daily diet, which is why they are a common addition to hospital menus. Apples are nutritious! A medium-sized apple provides us with:

  • 94 calories
  • 0 grams of fat
  • 25 grams of carbohydrates
  • 19 grams of sugar (naturally occurring)
  • 3 grams of fiber, both soluble and insoluble
  • 14% of the RDI* for vitamin C
  • 6% of the RDI for potassium
  • 5% of the RDI for vitamin K 
  • 2-4% of the RDI for vitamins A, E, B1, B2, and B6
  • Manganese and copper

*RDI (Recommended Dietary Intake)

Hospitals that are striving to provide the healthiest menu options for their patients and staff often include apples in their kitchens. They are an excellent choice for patients because they are filling and provide many health benefits. For nurses and doctors, apples are an easy snack to grab and eat before rushing back to their patients.

Dietary Guidelines for Americans

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) compile nutritional recommendations every five years known as The Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The 2020 report recommends that folks focus on incorporating carbohydrate-rich plant-based foods into their diets for optimal health. Let’s take a look at the key points from the most recent report and see how our apples stack up.

Do not include a low-carbohydrate eating pattern or recommend limiting the consumption of carbohydrates.

Wow! All those super low-carb diets that increase our intake of meats and animal proteins are hurting us. These diet fads increase your risk of type 2 diabetes and diabetes-like symptoms in healthy people, not to mention heart disease, atrial fibrillation, and weight gain instead of the intended weight loss. A diet rich in healthy carbs, like the ones found in apples, not only prevents these diseases but can reverse the risk of developing them. 

Continue to promote plant-based eating patterns.

Richland Hills Farms hits this last one out of the park with our fresh, sliced apples. We’ll go over the many benefits specific to apples below, but according to the USDA and HHS, diners should make an effort to increase the amount of plant-based foods in their diets. Vegetables, fruits, legumes, and whole grains provide many of the essential nutrients your body needs. They’re low in calories and saturated fat, full of fiber and rich in vitamins and minerals. We’re biased to the idea of apples being one of your go-to fruit choices, of course.

Healing Properties of Fruit

Apples have many health benefits, much like other fruits. Apples are particularly healthy because they are a rich source of flavonoids, a polyphenol that can help to keep your blood vessels healthy and manage your blood pressure levels. The amount of flavonoids in an apple depends on the origin of the apple, ripeness, how it was farmed, transported, stored, and prepared. 

Polyphenols are micronutrients found in fruits, vegetables, herbs, spices, tea, dark chocolate, and wine. Polyphenols act as an antioxidant that neutralizes free radicals in the body. High free radicals in your system can damage cells and increase the amount of inflammation in your body. High levels of inflammation and free radicals are thought to increase your risk for cancer, diabetes, and heart disease.

The soluble fiber found in apples has health benefits that have been linked to reducing blood pressure. According to the University of Illinois, soluble fiber helps reduce the buildup of cholesterol in the lining of blood vessel walls. One cause of high blood pressure is cholesterol buildup that causes a reduced vein diameter which constricts the blood flow. The constricted blood flow causes your heart to work harder to get blood through your vascular system. 

The soluble fiber that apples contribute to your diet reduces the risk of the constriction of blood flow by naturally helping your body remove excess cholesterol before it can build up in veins and arteries. Soluble fiber helps your body naturally clear out the excess cholesterol reducing the risk of vascular diseases.

Apples also contain insoluble fiber, which adds additional health benefits. The insoluble fiber in apples is shown to aid in digestion and decrease constipation. Insoluble fiber does not dissolve in water and provides you with a feeling of fullness after you eat, which will help control calorie intake. Insoluble fiber also slows down the digestion process, which increases your body’s ability to absorb nutrients. In particular, it can aid in the digestion of glucose that helps control blood sugar levels. 

Apples help maintain a healthy immune response because of the amount of free-radical fighting flavonoids they provide to the body. Polyphenols and vitamin C grab onto the damaging free radicals in your bloodstream and help boost your immune system by removing them before they can make you ill. 

People with diabetes are encouraged to eat apples as they may help maintain a healthy blood glucose level. The soluble fiber in apples slows the absorption of glucose, reducing glucose levels in the bloodstream, and that will help maintain a healthy blood sugar balance. A diet high in fiber, both soluble and insoluble, can help the body regulate the effects of poor insulin output. Additionally, they reduce large blood sugar fluctuations that are the result of Type 2 diabetes. Eating a healthy diet that includes apples will help maintain a healthy weight and, for diabetics, can reduce the negative effect of low insulin output.  

The fiber in apples provides the body with a feeling of fullness, which can aid in weight loss efforts. Apples lower the absorption of glucose, thus assisting in regulating your blood sugar level. Keeping a consistent blood sugar level is key to controlling your appetite. Large fluctuations, or spikes, of glucose into the bloodstream send a signal to the brain that the body has fuel. Conversely, a dip in glucose levels in the bloodstream signals to the brain that the body needs more fuel and that we should eat. The amount of food we eat and the nutrient makeup of the food (primarily the amount of fiber in it) will regulate how quickly the food is digested. 

The fiber in apples can help our bodies feel full, avoid spikes in blood sugar and keep our bodies running efficiently. Eating a diet high in fiber and low in simple carbohydrates can maintain the blood glucose level, allowing for a steady stream of calories and glucose to be released into our system. This way, you can avoid the starvation response our body sends to our brains that we need fuel, thereby helping to maintain a healthy weight.