Celebrating healthcare chefs from across the North, Bradford College played host to the latest ‘Eating The Rainbow’ workshop on Tuesday 4th February.
The highly-anticipated event brought together healthcare catering professionals, featuring a strong focus on mental health, diversity, inclusion, and nutrition to shape the newest edition of The Healthcare Chefs’ Knowledge publication.
In partnership with NHS catering experts, The Chefs’ Forum is leading on a nationwide series of workshops offering healthcare chefs the opportunity to contribute to national conversations around sustainable, nutritious, and patient-focused hospital food.
As one of five regional workshops, the event at Bradford College underscored the City’s rich culinary and cultural heritage, while positioning us at the heart of NHS food innovation. As part of the day, our Catering students had the unique opportunity to contribute directly to research and recipe development, working alongside NHS chefs to cook and serve sustainable, health-focused meals. Janice Atack (Catering Lecturer), along with various healthcare chefs, led students in creating a selection of vibrant lunch dishes for guests in attendance.
Speaking about the experience of cooking alongside Chef Michelle Robinson of Stepping Hill Hospital, Danny Kravchenko (Level 2 Professional Cookery) said: “I’ve really enjoyed today and can’t wait to visit Michelle (Robinson) at Stepping Hill! She told us all about her career, including experience in luxury airline catering and professional football hospitality. I really think that the healthcare catering industry could be for me, and have learnt a huge amount about the sector.”
Following this nationwide series of workshops, The Healthcare Chefs’ Knowledge 2: Eating The Rainbow will highlight 100 carbon-friendly recipes tailored to support environmental sustainability and patient wellbeing. It will also explore the role of key nutrients in mental health and recovery, offering guidance on how these can be integrated into hospital menus to enhance patient outcomes.
Phil Shelley (NHS England) said: “The Healthcare Chefs’ Knowledge 2: Eating The Rainbow will provide valuable insight into the latest hospital food practices, with a strong emphasis on sustainability, mental health-conscious nutrition, and the creation of nutritious menus. This edition will be another essential resource for chefs and caterers to explore, learn from, and implement in hospital kitchens. We are proud to collaborate with The Chefs’ Forum to engage our chefs and stakeholders, showcase their outstanding work, and shape the future of healthcare catering.”
This latest collaboration not only supports the NHS’s environmental and nutritional goals, but also empowers our next generation of chefs through healthy, sustainable menu innovation.
Explore the Catering & Hospitality courses on offer at Bradford College.
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