Many times, what sounds good to a patient the night before isn t appetizing the next day. But now, they can order items that seem appealing to them then and there. Crater, a registered dietitian, notes that less food is wasted in the process. In the old days, if you ordered meatloaf the morning before, it was delivered at noon the next day even if Fruit Loops and milk were all you felt like eating. Using the new service, patients have access to an extensive menu.
Food is ordered by phone and patients can call as frequently as they want.
Items are freshly prepared and delivered within 45 minutes. There s a schedule to follow and mealtimes are usually very regimented. We re hoping our patients will feel more in charge now that they can order whenever they actually want to eat. Food also equates to comfort for many people, so having it available on demand makes hospitalization much more tolerable. Another important aspect of the program is the nutritional education it offers patients.