Why Healthcare Staff Dining Needs a Rethink — and What Smart Organizations Are Doing About It

In healthcare, food should never be an afterthought. But for too many frontline professionals — juggling long hours, high stress and limited downtime — it often is. Meals are skipped, nutrition takes a back seat and the few moments of rest are spent rushing through whatever’s closest, not what’s best.

That’s a problem. And it's one your healthcare facility can solve.

Our new report, “Healthcare Retail Café Insights: How Smarter Food Solutions Support Stronger Care,” reveals how modern, thoughtful dining programs can make a meaningful difference — not just for staff morale, but for organizational performance, patient satisfaction and overall wellbeing.

Here’s a glimpse of what we uncovered:

• Do you know what healthcare workers say is their top priority when it comes to food?
• Do you know what options they want?
• Do you know how they measure the importance of high-quality ingredients versus comfort in food moments?

In this report, the message is clear: food service in healthcare must evolve. That’s why we developed eat>, Sodexo’s dynamic retail dining experience, designed specifically for the realities of healthcare life.

This report, developed in partnership with CCI Global, doesn’t just spotlight the challenges — it shares retail solutions that healthcare organizations can implement now to turn food into a source of strength and support for staff, patients and visitors alike.

You’ll learn:

• How micro markets, pre-ordering tools and chef-driven menus save time and reduce stress.
• Why thoughtful café spaces can become hubs of calm, comfort and connection.
• How better food access directly supports resilience, retention and care quality.