New pediatric menu brings more choice and flexibility to young patients

CALGARY – For children in hospital, something as simple as choosing a familiar meal can make the day feel a little easier. Young inpatients at Alberta Children’s Hospital (ACH) will have more choice and flexibility at mealtimes with the recent launch of a new pediatric-focused menu and room service model.

The new approach is designed specifically for patients staying in hospital, providing more familiar, appealing food choices and greater flexibility to order meals closer to the time when patients are ready to eat.

The expanded menu includes smoothies, child-friendly entrées, options for a range of dietary and cultural needs, and an app with a pictorial menu to help younger patients more easily see and select their meals.

“Mealtimes can make a meaningful difference in a child’s hospital experience,” said Michelle Nelson, Director, Patient Food Services, AHS. “By giving pediatric inpatients more choice and flexibility, we can help make meals more comfortable and enjoyable while supporting their nutritional and recovery needs.”

The menu builds on the success of a pilot project, and was developed in collaboration with dietitians, Patient Food Services, clinical teams, and patients and families. During the pilot, meal waste decreased from 44 per cent to 32 per cent, and patient satisfaction increased to 90 per cent. Feedback from patients and families helped shape both the final menu and the service model, including requests for more familiar flavours and greater flexibility for children whose appetites may change throughout the day.

The new menu and room service model were supported in part through funding from the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation (ACHF). Through the generosity of donors, the Foundation contributed $231,000 to purchase the equipment required to create a more flexible and child-friendly mealtime experience for young patients and their families.

“Our community understands that caring for a child means caring for their whole experience,” said Dr. Claudia Hudspeth, President and CEO, Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation. “We are incredibly grateful to our donors for making thoughtful investments like this possible — helping bring greater comfort, choice and a little bit of home to children while they are in hospital.”

This initiative supports AHS’ commitment to improving the patient and family experience, delivering high-quality, child-focused care and incorporating patient and family feedback into the way care is provided. The new menu and room service model will expand to inpatients at the Stollery Children’s Hospital later this year.

Alberta Health Services provides acute care services for more than five million Albertans at hospitals, urgent care centres and health centres across the province. Our mission is to provide excellent and accessible patient-focused healthcare for all Albertans. Our current focus is on reducing emergency department wait times, increasing access to surgeries and improving patient flow.