Nutrition & Meals

Our approach

Since it opened, this hospital has served a lacto-ovo-vegetarian diet, built around grains, vegetables, soy products, and fruit, with eggs and dairy added, which we believe is nutritionally excellent and supports treating and preventing illness and promoting health.

The 2016 position paper of the (US) Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics on vegetarian diets states that an appropriately planned vegetarian diet, including a fully plant-based diet, is healthful, nutritionally adequate, and may provide health benefits for the prevention and treatment of certain diseases, and that such diets are appropriate for all stages of the life cycle, including pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood, adolescence, older adulthood, and for athletes, and are more environmentally sustainable than diets centred on animal products because they use fewer natural resources and place less strain on the environment.

Our department's approach

• Delivering a safe, enjoyable meal to each patient's bedside, suited to their condition.
• Taking part in team-based care, contributing to treatment through nutrition management alongside other professionals.
• Providing nutrition guidance suited to each patient's condition, to support continuing dietary treatment at home.

Certifications held by our staff

Registered dietitians, nutritionists, and cooks; specialist dietitians in clinical nutrition and certified nutrition support team specialists.

How we run our kitchen

All catering is run in-house, with meals prepared with care. This hospital has filed under Category I inpatient meal service standards, with meals managed by a registered dietitian or nutritionist, served at appropriate times (dinner from 18:00) and temperature.

Meals during your stay

A typical day includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner. About ten times a year, we also serve special seasonal meals marking occasions such as Hinamatsuri, Children's Day, Respect for the Aged Day, Christmas, and New Year, so inpatients can enjoy seasonal food too.

Food allergies

We prepare meals with the relevant allergen removed. Please let your physician, nurse, or dietitian know about any food allergy at admission.

Nutrition support during your stay

A dietitian visits within 24 hours of admission to answer any question about your meal plan, please feel free to raise anything on your mind. Our dietitians regularly monitor inpatients' nutritional status against build, test results, symptoms, and treatment, adjusting support as needed. Where useful, our Nutrition Support Team (NST), drawing on physicians, nurses, dietitians, pharmacists, occupational therapists, and administrative staff, meets to plan the most suitable nutritional care.

Team involvement

Participation in departmental case conferences (Internal Medicine, Surgery, Orthopedics, Palliative Care, Obstetrics), the NST committee, and the pressure-injury prevention committee.

Individual nutrition counselling

On a physician's referral, our dietitian provides individual, 30-minute counselling sessions, by appointment, tailored to a patient's lifestyle and preferences. Available to inpatients, and to outpatients at both the hospital and the outpatient building.

Conditions commonly referred for counselling

Diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, heart disease, kidney disease, liver disease, significant obesity, pancreatic conditions, post-digestive-surgery care, severe anaemia, food allergy, cancer, and malnutrition, among others.

Booking

Inpatients, and patients at our hospital or obstetrics outpatient clinics, can ask their physician about a referral and book accordingly. Outpatient-building patients can likewise ask their physician at their visit.

Counselling volume (April 2023 to March 2024)

Our cafeteria

Open to families and visitors of inpatients, among other guests. Ordering, seating, plating, and returning dishes are self-service (this is not an all-you-can-eat arrangement), and because the cafeteria serves mainly hospital staff, table service found at a typical restaurant may not always be available; we appreciate your understanding.