Diet supporting patient consumption - small meals - 6 day
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 and nourishing mid-meals, and spread dietary intakes evenly throughout the day.
Characteristics
This diet offers the same food choices as the small diet but extra items are provided at mid-meals.
Indications
Patients with reduced gastric capacity or appetite.
Nutritional adequacy
As 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, but should be adequate if nourishing mid-meals are provided.
Precautions
Patients ordered this diet will require monitoring of their protein and energy intake; they may require supplements. It may not be possible to provide this diet at all sites, depending on the food service system used.
Examples of default food and drink specifications to encourage nutrient-dense choices are:
- Breakfast: Cereal and milk and fruit +/- hot breakfast
- AM: Half or whole sandwich + extras as desired + drink
- Lunch: Hot main + vegetables + dessert (no fruit, sandwich or beverage)
- PM: Cheese and biscuits + extras as desired + drink
- Dinner: Soup and sandwich (no beverage)
- Supper: Flavoured milk + extras as desired
Other high-energy mid-meals may also be suitable
(see Nutrition standards for adult inpatients in NSW hospitals, section 3.3)
Paediatrics
Suitable for use in paediatrics when combined with an age-appropriate diet.
Specific menu planning guidelines
| Allowed | Not allowed | |
|---|---|---|
| Hot main dishes | All, but small (half) serves | - |
| Sauces, gravies | All | - |
| Starchy vegetables / pasta / rice | All | - |
| 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 | - |
| Beverages | All | - |
| Biscuits | All | - |
| Miscellaneous | All | - |
References
- Agency for Clinical Innovation. Nutrition standards for adult inpatients in NSW hospitals. Sydney: ACI; 2011.