Diet supporting patient consumption - small
This document is part of the ACI Diet Specifications for Adult Inpatients. It is not to be used for patient education.
Aim
To provide smaller servings of main-meal food items.
Characteristics
This diet offers the same food choices as the full diet, but a small (half) serve of the main menu item.
Indications
Patients with poor appetite, nausea or early satiety.
Nutritional adequacy
May be nutritionally inadequate because hot main-meal items are the main source of protein. This diet has the potential to provide less energy and protein than the full diet.
Precautions
Patients ordered this diet may require high energy mid-meals and/or nutritional supplements. It may not be possible to provide this diet at all sites, depending on the food service system and re-therm equipment used.
Paediatrics
Suitable for use in paediatrics when combined with an age-appropriate diet.
Specific menu planning guidelines
| Food types | Allowed | Not allowed |
|---|---|---|
| Hot main dishes | All, but small (half) serves | - |
| Sauces, gravies | All | - |
| Starchy vegetables / pasta / rice | Half serve rice / pasta / potato | - |
| Vegetables | All, but single-scoop serves (approx 40g) | - |
| Soups | All | - |
| Sandwiches | Two or four points of sandwiches only | Six points or more |
| Salads, dressings | All | - |
| Breads, cereals | All | - |
| Spreads | All | - |
| Hot breakfast choices | All | - |
| Fruit | All | |
| Yoghurt | All | - |
| Desserts | All | - |
| Milk and cheese | All | - |
| Drinks | All | - |
| Biscuits | All | - |
| Miscellaneous | All | - |
References
- Agency for Clinical Innovation. Nutrition standards for adult patients. Sydney: ACI; 2024.
Change log
| Change date | Section updated | Change |
|---|---|---|
| February 2025 | ||
| Menu planning guides | Added amount to starchy vegetables, rice and pasta allowed | |
| References | Updated | |
| General language | Updated to be consistent with ACI writing style guide |