Some N.S. hospitals to eliminate fried foods

Nova Scotia's largest district health authority is banning fried food at its hospital cafeterias starting Sept. 1.

French fries, fried fish and onion rings will be replaced by less greasy options, such as baked chicken nuggets, at all 10 hospitals and health centres in the Capital District Health Authority.

Amanda Whitewood, chief financial officer of the CDHA, said it's part of the healthy lifestyles the hospitals are trying to promote.

"We certainly have positive feedback from our cardiologists, for example, who think the decision is long overdue," Whitewood said.

Not everyone agrees.

"I'm not gonna like it," said Leeann Cain, outside the Halifax Infirmary. "French fries are potatoes and potatoes are supposed to be good for you, right? And everybody needs a little bit of fat in their body."

Cain said the decision won't be good news for some students at Citadel High School, located across the street from the hospital.

A significant number of students choose not to eat the healthy lunches at their cafeteria and have been known to walk across the street to enjoy the deep-fried menu at the hospital.

The elimination of fried food comes months after a handful of doctors at the hospital walked to the high school and had lunch there, in an apparent attempt to mock the irony of the available food options.