While parents previously had access to an online short-order menu for their children, the Food & Dietary Services team has gone above and beyond, revamping the menu to offer more nutritionally balanced snacks and child-friendly meals.  

This initiative aims to simplify the ordering process for children and parents, while also prioritising their dietary needs.  

Director Support Services Gerard Malcolm said this was a fantastic outcome, emphasising the positive impact it had on children staying at the hospital.  

Mr Malcolm congratulated his Food & Dietary Services team for their close collaboration with Dietetics and consumers in successfully upgrading the new menu.  

"The development of the nutritionally balanced children's menu was inspired by valuable feedback we received from a patient regarding the meals served to children," Mr Malcolm said. 

"At Grampians Health, we value consumer feedback and are constantly striving for service improvement. Naturally, we are thrilled with this outcome, especially for children requiring extended stays in hospital."  

Acting Clinical Manager Dietetics Andrea Pinch said it was a great opportunity to increase options available to children in our hospitals, especially the choice of snacks.  

“Snacks play a very important role in children’s nutrition and previously we had a very limited variety of snacks available. Having more snacks available will assist with improving the overall intake of nutritional food whilst in hospital. We also have a range of new main meal options catering to the needs and preferences of children,” Ms Pinch said. 

The newly introduced menu features an array of snack options that are both nutritious and appealing to children including an assortment of fruit, yoghurt, and baked items, and the improved meal options now extend to items such as spaghetti bolognaise, toasted sandwiches, macaroni cheese, meat and vegetarian dishes.