FOOD & NUTRITION SERVICES

Your Meals
The Nutrition Services believes wholesome, nourishing meals are an important part of your treatment and recovery. We make every effort to provide nutritious meals that are prepared according to your physician’s order. In certain cases, your physician may order tests for you that may postpone your mealtime or alter the food you can eat.

The hospital dietitian is always happy to answer any questions you may have regarding your diet or available alternative menu choices. If you would like to see a representative from the Nutrition Services Department, please call 719-587-1287.

General Diet Information:

• Regular Diet: The Regular diet has no therapeutic restrictions and all foods are allowed.
• Therapeutic Diet: Prescribed by your physician, this diet is intended for those patients in need of specific medical nutrition therapies to treat illness, injury or other health concerns. Therapeutic diets include the following:
• Clear Liquid Diet: Prescribed as initial feeding. Promotes bowel rest and requires minimal digestion.
• Full Liquid Diet: Transitional diet between clear liquid and solid foods. Utilizes milk-based products and foods that are liquid at room temperature.
• No Added Salt Diet: Prescribed to decrease the amount of sodium (usually in the form of table salt) to manage hypertension, cardiac conditions and fluid retention.
• Low Sodium Diet: Further reduction of sodium in foods and cooking to manage some respiratory and cardiac conditions.
• Cardiac Diet: Prescribed to decrease sodium, cholesterol, and saturated fat to manage cardiac conditions.
• Low fat, Low Cholesterol Diet: Prescribed to reduce total fat/saturated fat and cholesterol in the treatment of cardiac disease as well as other disease processes.
• ADA Diet: Your physician may prescribe this diet for the treatment of diabetes, elevated blood sugars or weight control.

Patient Meal Times
Breakfast is served between 7:00 AM and 8:45 AM. A Nutrition Service’s employee will personally discuss with you your breakfast offerings for the day and then prepare them and deliver them to your bedside. Lunch is served between 12 noon and 1 PM; dinner between 5 PM and 6 PM. Your individual mealtime may vary according to your room location.

Guest Trays
Medical/Surgical Units: Family members, friends and visitors are welcome to join you at mealtime. A guest tray may be served in your room for a minimal charge. Please contact Nutrition Services at least one hour in advance of the meal you would like to share with a guest.

Obstetrics The husband or significant other of an Obstetrics patient is offered one complimentary guest meal tray during the patient’s hospital stay. Additional meal trays are available for a minimal fee. Please contact Nutrition Services at least one hour in advance of the meal you want to share with the new mother.

Pediatrics Parents of children aged 13 and younger may receive a complimentary tray throughout the duration of their child’s stay. At your request, your nurse will arrange for these meals to be delivered to your child’s room.

Whistlestop Cafe
The Whistlestop Cafe is located on the first floor adjacent to the front lobby and is open to visitors daily. A variety of foods and beverages are served, including a hot entree, salad bar, vegetables, sandwiches, homemade soups and desserts. Coffee is available free throughout the day.

Breakfast 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
Lunch 12:00 noon - 1:30 p.m.
On weekends the cafeteria is only open for lunch.

Hot Chilly’s Cart
Monday through Friday a cart stocked with sandwiches, cold food items, homemade desserts, snacks and beverages is available throughout the hospital between the hours of 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and again between the hours of 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.. A Hot Chilly’s Representative can help you with your selection.

Vending Room
Vending machines are available for your convenience 24 hours per day. They are located on the first floor opposite the South bank of elevators. In addition, a soda machine is also located in the ER waiting area. Please deposit any refuse in the trashcans conveniently located throughout the hospital.

Last Modified: April 23, 2007 9:15 PM