Vision Software

More than just software™

TwitterLinkedinYoutube

 

  • Home
  • Blog
    • Diet and Nutrition
    • Food Service Management
    • Hospital Administration
    • Patient Safety and Satisfaction
    • Vital Bytes Newsletter
  • Support
    • 24/7 Support
    • Virtual Expert Services
  • Contact Us
    • Get In Touch
    • Corporate Directory
  • Why Vision?
    • The Vision Commitment
    • An Innovator In Healthcare
    • Meet the Team
  • Products
    • Software Overview
    • Vision Software Online (Web-Based)
    • Diet Office, Menus, & Room Service
    • Clinical Nutrition Software
    • Food Service Management
    • Nutrient Labeling
  • Case Studies
    • Gwinnett Medical Center
  • Platforms
    • Inside the Web-Based Technology
    • Web Hosting Details
    • Cloud Computing
    • Client/Server Vs. Web Based Platform
    • Windows Info
    • HL7 Interfaces
    • Technology Partners
  • Trends
    • Food Service Sustainability
    • Hospital Room Service
    • Food Nutrition Informatics
    • Nutrition Risk Screening Software
    • Food Safety & HACCP
    • ICD-10-CM/PCS
  • Tools and Resources
    • Automation Cost Savings Analysis
    • Duplicate Tray Cost Savings Analysis
    • Room Service Checkup
    • Patient Food Allergy – Safety Analysis
    • Professional Associations
    • Free Foodservice Operational Check Up
  • Calendar
    • Healthcare Events & Tradeshows
    • Tradeshow Photos
You are here: Home / Diet and Nutrition / Balance out patients’ meals with tasty vegetable side dishes

November 8, 2013

Balance out patients’ meals with tasty vegetable side dishes

Balance Out Patient MealsThe Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act has cast a spotlight on healthcare food services, leading hospital kitchens to revamp their menus. According to News & Observer, some locations have opted to>get rid of their fryers altogether, while others may keep one or two. For those who will continue to offer fried dishes, consider pairing these items with sides of vegetables. It may be a difficult shift to complement fried chicken with a green, but if done correctly, it will not only be healthier, it can also be delicious.

Figure out what will go well with the main item
If the main dish is a saltier item, consider pairing its flavor with a sweeter vegetable dish. Corn, sweet potatoes, carrots, zucchini and other squashes are great starters. Rather than simply steaming, try quickly sautéing them and adding some fresh herbs. Patients may very well appreciate the fresh flavors.

Alternatively, a heartier sweet side dish can be achieved by further cooking the vegetables. Purées are easy to make and can be easy to add additional flavoring to. The strong taste of sweet potato can easily mask a bit of mashed cauliflower. This offers the same great taste with additional nutritional benefits.

Try offering greens that may not be as well-known, such as collard greens or bok choy​, to make your kitchen stand out. Steamed collard greens is a popular dish in the South that slow cooks a ham hock along with the vegetable, giving the dish plenty of flavor. However, it is a very salty mixture and would not be a healthy option for patients. Consider using other ingredients with strong flavor, such as garlic, to complement the collard greens. Bok choy is quick and easy to make. Depending on how it’s cooked, it can offer a crunchy stalk, which could make meals more interesting.

Look beyond the ingredients and also consider taste
As hospital kitchens continue to reevaluate their food options and make strides toward healthier menus, it is important to remember that taste and presentation are equally important. Healthier options may not mean tastier options to patients. This is a wonderful opportunity for healthcare food staff to experiment with ingredients and dishes. For recipes that are a hit, consider making it public. This will promote employee confidence and allow patients to continue a healthy diet even after they leave the hospital.

Filed Under: Diet and Nutrition, Patient Safety and Satisfaction

Schedule a Demo

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Categories

  • Diet and Nutrition
  • Food Service Management
  • General News
  • Hospital Administration
  • Patient Safety and Satisfaction
  • Press Releases
  • Vital Bytes Newsletter

Recent Posts

Vital Bytes Newsletter – May 2023

Vital Bytes Newsletter – May 2023

Vision Software is the leading provider of health care web-based food service solutions in the world. We are passionate about our mission: helping you to make a difference in the lives of the patients and customers in your care through excellence in food service informatics and extraordinary support. View Newsletter Here >>

Industry Specific Products

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google. Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Health care foodservice software features

  • Premier Customers
    Premier Customers
  • Free Checkup
    Free Checkup
  • Tray Tracking
    Tray Tracking
  • Cost Savings
    Cost Savings
  • Nutrition Software
    Nutrition Software
  • Food Allergies
    Food Allergies
  • Software Online
    Software Online
  • Room Service
    Room Service
  • Software Support
    Software Support
  • Home
  • Support
  • Careers
  • Contact Us

© 2002 - 2023 Vision Software Technologies, Inc.
25 Century Blvd. Suite 411, Nashville, TN, 37214 • 629.777.8989
Designed and Powered by Ponder Consulting ®