Milford chronicle., 1930-10-10

The patient convalescing from an
illness needs nourishing food at
tractively served. Nowhere can this
be so successfully accomplished as
in the patients own home.
The sick patient at home is more
than a sick patient, he is the most
important member of the household.
For him as for any other illustrious
guest, the best of everything should
be procured. Now is the time to
bring out the prettiest china, the
best linen, the brightest silver. Good
food like a fine portrait needs a
suitable frame. In fact, in this case
the picture may be sold on the mer-
it's of the frame; the tray must look
so tempting that in spite of list
less appetite the patient becomes
interested, and feels a desire to
taste a bite or two Often if the pa
tient can be tempted to eat the
first few mouthfuls of food his ap-
petite is stimulated and he will fin
ish the whole portion.
The trays must not be monoton-
Gus in appearance. Change the
dishes, change the color scheme.
There are few houses that cannot
boast several different sets of dish
es. Dig them out of those top cup
board shelves-that set of Mothers
Wedding dishes with the little pink
roses and gold bands. They are not
too precious to use now. They will
never serve a better purpose than
tempting brother John to eat a lit
tie of that Scraped Beef Ball and
Stuffed Baked Potato. Where is that
bright blue williw ware pattern
with it's queer little figures; how
about that clear golden yellow
breakfast set? What have they been
saved for if not for just such an
ergency-helping to get little
Mary to eat a Poached Egg on
Toast and Chopped Fresh Spinach?
In using colored glass you will find
that food like people has certain
colors that are becoming and others
that are not. So use your discretion
in your choice of colors, particular
ly of glass. Try to imagine the food
you are planning to serve before
you go in too heavily for some of
the vivid colors.
Linen now days can do a lot for
the tray. A wide range of lovely
colors and patterns will give a
wealth of variety if the household
is really short of dishes. Silver must
be bright-not discolored and
stained. Silver tea pots and silver
plate covers are an addition not on
ly for the cleaning lights and re-
fections they contribute but also be-
cause of the very practical service
of keeping the food hot. If silver
is not available, a china plate cover
and earthen ware tea pot will serve.
Some provision must be made for
keeping the hot food hot and the
cold food cold. Cover the hot food
and be sure the cover is hot so
that it will not absorb heat from
the food. Wherever practical, serve
cold dishes in bowl of cracked ice.
Before carrying up the tray to the
sick persons room, check it care
fully to see that it is complete. 1t
will save you steps and more i'm
portant it will save the invalid the
annoyance and istreess of having
his tray stand by his bedside while
he waits for "a glass of water, or
the salt, or perhaps the knife and |
fork. Because of your carelessness |
Willie may not touch the good |
cream soup which had been allowed |
to cool to an unappetizing tempera-
ture.
Before the tray is served, some
one should arrange the room COM
fortably and get the patient ready.
up any disorder that may .
enough exist; adjust the
window blinds so that the light is
bright but not in the patients eyes.
Clear off the bedside table where
the tray is to be placed. Help the .
patient to wash, comb his hair, get
himself freshened up Arrange his
pillows, set him in a comfortable
position, and then when everything
is ready, bring in the bright pretty
tray with its viands temptingly dis
played.