Nutrition: What We Offer at Bradley Hospital
The food and nutrition team at Bradley Hospital is committed to providing a healthful and comfortable environment for your child while he or she is being cared for at our hospital. We work to ensure all patients receive nutritious and wholesome meals. Our ingredients are purchased with the best quality and nutrition in mind. Our healthy, variety-filled menu has been designed to reflect the nutritional needs and diverse food preferences of the children, teenagers and young adults who are in our care, and follows USDA dietary guidelines.
Our menu is high in whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. Our fruits and vegetables are delivered fresh daily and during the summer months, we serve primarily locally grown produce. Most of our meals are cooked fresh from scratch. We also serve high quality fast-food items to satisfy many tastes and preferences.
Breakfast includes a main course, fresh fruits, cereals, bread with butter, soy butter or jelly, and an assortment of milks. If your child needs Lactaid, soy or rice milk, please inform the nurse.
Lunch and dinner include a main course, hot or cold side dishes, salad, fruit and bread. Dinner includes dessert. Sandwiches with cheese, deli meats, soy butter or jelly are available as regular meal alternatives. Healthy snacks such as yogurt, cheese, wholegrain crackers, vegetables and fruit are available on the unit at all times, along with other popular snacks.
Special Diets
Our team provides a variety of special diets including:
- Gluten-free
- Dairy-free
- Lactose-free or lactose-restricted
- Vegetarian
- Vegan
- Kosher
- Reduced-calorie or increased-calorie
- Halal
In addition, we accommodate any religious dietary needs and food allergies and sensitivities.
If your child is a picky eater or eating poorly, our clinical nutrition staff will work with you and your child to ensure that your child’s needs are met. Please inform the nurse as soon as possible if you have concerns about your child’s eating habits.
Teaching Activities
The clinical nutrition team provides individual nutrition consultations to patients at nutrition risk. In addition, patients can participate in nutrition education groups led by registered dietitians. These nutrition education groups focus on fostering healthy eating and healthy lifestyle habits.
Studies show that these kinds of habits and choices correlate with better emotional health and well-being. Food preparation demonstrations, tastings and samplings are often part of the education groups.