The Happy Heart Healthy Eating Award is a unique health promotion programme created by the Irish Heart Foundation in the mid-1990s. We have continuously developed the programme over the past 25+ years with the support of the HSE. Through the award programme, catering facilities in healthcare services are assisted and supported to adopt healthier cooking practices and provide healthier food choices without incurring substantial costs. The process involves two tailored site visits – the catering assessment and monitoring visit – as well as all the dietitian’s advice and recommendations for your facility.

Achieving the Happy Heart Healthy Eating Award will help to:

– create a culture of health and wellbeing;

– provide a long-term sustainable programme;

– demonstrate a commitment to your facility’s staff wellbeing.

In 2021 we partnered with the HSE Healthy Eating Active Living Programme to support healthcare services and enable:

– the healthier choice to be the easier choice for staff and visitors;

– catering facilities in healthcare services to ensure healthy options are provided and promoted;

– food and beverage provision to be aligned with the HSE Nutrition Standards for provision of food and beverages to staff and visitors.

Bloomfield Health Services, Dublin

Bon Secours Hospital, Cork

Bon Secours Care Village, Cork

Bon Secours Hospital, Galway

Bon Secours Hospital, Limerick

Bon Secours Hospital, Tralee, Kerry

Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown, Dublin

The Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital, Dublin

Cork University Hospital, Cork

Croom Orthopaedic Hospital, Limerick

Highfield Healthcare, Swords, Dublin

Mayo University Hospital

Mercy University Hospital, Cork

Merlin Park University Hospital, Galway

Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise, Laois

Naas General Hospital, Kildare

National Maternity Hospital, Holles St, Dublin

National Rehabilitation Hospital Dun Laoghaire, Dublin

Nenagh Hospital, Tyone, Tipperary

Our Lady’s Hospital Navan, Meath

Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital Drogheda, Louth

Portiuncula University Hospital Ballinasloe, Galway

Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital, Dublin

Saint Camillus’ Hospital, Limerick

Saint Finbarr’s Hospital, Cork

Saint Patrick’s Mental Health Service, Dublin – Q Cafe Ridgeways

Saint Stephen’s Hospital, Cork

Saint John of God Carmona Services, Dublin

Saint Joseph’s Hospital, Ennis, Clare

Saint John of God – Dublin South East Services, Co. Dublin

Saint Vincent’s Hospital Fairview, Dublin

Saint Vincent’s Private Hospital, Dublin

Saint Vincent’s University Hospital Elm Park, Dublin

Sligo University Hospital

South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital, Cork

University Hospital Kerry

University Maternity Hospital, Limerick

Roscommon University Hospital

University Hospital Galway

Letterkenny University Hospital, Donegal

Saint Francis Hospice Raheny, Dublin

University Hospital Limerick

Ennis  Hospital, Clare

Merchants Quay Ireland, Dublin

Milford Care Centre, Limerick

Our Lady’s Hospice and Care Services Harold’s Cross, Dublin

Our Lady’s Hospital, Manorhamilton, Leitrim

Saint John of God Hospital, Stillorgan, Dublin

Tallaght University Hospital, Dublin

There are three different levels of achievement for the award: Bronze, Silver and Gold. You can apply for any level but must meet the specific criteria for that award.

Download the criteria checklist

Awards are presented at a national award ceremony each year. The award is valid for two years. You can re-apply for the award every two years. Our aim is to support every healthcare catering facility to achieve the highest standard possible, so we encourage sites re-applying to aim for the next level.

Catering facilities that prepare and serve hot food on site in HSE sites and Section 38 and 39 funded health services can register for the award programme free of charge by contacting HealthyEating.ActiveLiving@hse.ie

Other healthcare services can access the award programme for a charge.

Email HealthyEating.ActiveLiving@hse.ie to register your interest in the award programme. You will be asked to complete a short survey which will be shared with the Irish Heart Foundation.

Once we receive your completed survey a member of the Irish Heart Foundation’s dedicated and experienced health promotion team will be in touch with you to talk you through the process and what is involved in being part of the Awards.

“The Catering Department of St Vincent’s Private Hospital have been involved in the Irish Heart Foundation health initiatives for over 10 years, and believe as a hospital we should be providing healthy, nutritious food for staff. Having healthy choices available for staff assists them in making the right food choices and is ensuring that we help in their overall wellbeing. Achieving the Gold Award was an honour to the department’s commitment to providing nutritious, fresh, healthy food daily.‘ – Yvonne Byrne, Catering Manager St Vincent’s Private Hospital

“The Healthy Eating Award had been on our horizon for several years. To achieve external accreditation based on very specific criteria that included complete food and beverage calorie posting, compliance of HSE Healthy Vending, and very structured and healthy menu options has led to greater customer satisfaction and confidence in our meal offerings, and this has been very rewarding for us. We play a leading role in the hospital staff Health and Wellbeing activities and feel a sense of pride, to be at such a high standard, providing customers with the tools to make informed healthy meal choices.” – Ian O’Gorman, Catering Manager Tallaght University Hospital.

Watch this testimonial from Cork University Hospital, Cork on the success of our Healthy Eating Awards at the hospital.