Signals For Health

This week the UVa Hospital opened an innovative new program at the Wahoo West Cafe (the cafeteria in the old hospital), designed to promote healthy eating by making it readily apparent which food choices are good ones and which are not. The Signals For Health program colorcodes all items in the cafeteria with green, yellow or red labels, based on calories, fat and sodium. Green indicates healthiest, red means eat sparingly or avoid, and yellow means eat in moderation. This follows an earlier plan with vending machines, with similar labels, that resulted in fewer red items sold, and more green and yellow.

I think this is a great idea - not only does it make it easier to make good choices, but the learning about good nutrition should extend beyond the cafeteria - and is the brainchild of Medical School Dean Tim Garson.

CNN was in town to do a story yesterday (and asked me for my thoughts!). This is a good idea that should spread.