Background: The novel food compass score (FCS) may ease food choices and policy actions. Aim: To assess the correlations of FCS with key nutrients in hospital meals. Methods: A 14-day hospital menu was recorded and analyzed with the USDA database and published FCS values. Results: The menu FCS was 40.6 ± 3.7 (mean ± standard deviation). Fish, vegetable, chicken, and egg-based meals had the highest FCS, while pork/beef meals had the lowest FCS. The FCS was positively related to vitamins (vitamin C, thiamine, B6, folate, pantothenic acid, vitamin E, vitamin D, vitamin A, carotenoids), choline and minerals (calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, copper, and manganese) and negatively associated with zinc, niacin, and animal protein. Moreover, the FCS was positively related to portions of cheese, fish, vegetables, and eggs and negatively to portions of poultry, refined grains, and margarine. Conclusion: The FCS may help in designing healthier nutrient-dense hospital menus.
Keywords: Food compass score; diet quality; hospital diet.