Food in healthcare is more than a meal — it’s part of the treatment. Menrike Menkveld-Beukers is Director of the Nutrition & Healthcare Alliance, the leading Dutch centre of expertise dedicated to healthy, tailored and sustainable nutrition in hospitals and healthcare organisations. The Alliance connects healthcare practice with nutrition science to accelerate the integration of nutrition and prevention into medical care, improve food environments in healthcare settings, and strengthen nutrition education in medical schools.

Since 2007, the organisation has pioneered this field through research, strategy, innovation and collaboration with healthcare institutions, governments, NGOs and private partners. Under Menrike’s leadership, a local initiative evolved into a national programme and partnership with the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sports, including the intervention programme “A Taste of Excellent Healthcare (Goede Zorg Proef Je®)”. The programme offers hospitals and long-term care organisations a practical roadmap toward healthier, more sustainable and more plant-rich diets while keeping the nutritional needs of patients and vulnerable groups central. Menrike also works to advance research and innovation through collaborations with partners including Wageningen University & Research, Ziekenhuis Gelderse Vallei, Rijnstate, and UMC Utrecht, helping translate nutrition knowledge into real improvements in patient health and quality of life.