In 2011, we launched a culinary wellness initiative and hired culinary specialists who supported those with mental health issues by supplementing their recovery with heart healthy cuisine. At Crestwood, our Heart Healthy Diet takes on a comprehensive approach to dietary wellness, including health education for both staff and persons served. Our HHD is led by a core team of staff who work with Wellness Ambassadors at each campus to implement new habits that help the people we serve lead a more robust lifestyle.

To help persons served establish a healthier relationship with food, we strive to provide the most satisfying, nutrient rich meals possible. During the last decade, we found evidence connecting diabetes and metabolic diseases to highly processed foods containing refined sugars and fats. By reducing or eliminating these ingredients from our diet, we improve the quality of life and health of persons served.

At Crestwood, we offer a HHD to all persons served. This diet is unique, being that almost all food items are made from scratch with organic, whole ingredients. Each meal is nutritionally analyzed to be appropriate for diagnoses common among our population, such as diabetes and heart disease. Our meals are served family-style, and unlike a hospital setting, they are freshly prepared and creatively plated, resulting in a more restaurant-inspired dining experience. We also provide seasonal menus and include meals from a diverse array of cultures to appeal to the diverse flavor profiles and backgrounds of the people we serve.

Through the Heart Healthy Diet, we provide nutritious and appetizing meals to our Crestwood community and educate persons served and staff about dietary wellness. Health education in-services are available to persons served and a Health and Wellness Newsletter is provided quarterly for staff. We also feature a Crestwood Cookbook that is available at all campuses and is often used in cooking groups for persons served, learning how to cook for themselves. Other optional HHD programs are also available across all our campuses, including a Garden Program, Culinary Diversity Week, and Good Day Café. By implementing these programs, staff are able to set aside time to eat meals with persons served and model healthy behaviors such as regular exercise, healthy eating habits, and self-care. In modeling these healthy habits, our staff influence the people we serve to lead healthier lives during their recovery, as they move to lower levels of care.