Dietetics

Hospital food needs to do a job. On one level getting a patient to eat something, anything, is important. However, ultimately, the requirement of the food is nutrition. Getting the right balance of protein, carbohydrate, minerals and vitamins that can optimise recovery is the goal of every meal. This area is governed by trained and experienced dieticians who work with chefs and hospital caterers to maximise the benefits of meals and individual dishes. This work is not simply about calories but more about what dishes and meals actually contain. Dieticians are very important in hospitals. Some patients need very strict types of food - and this is where allergies and diets have to be considered. More on this later in the book.