Meal Delivery Systems

Meal Delivery Dishes: What You Need to Know

Meal delivery systems are designed to help operators at large institutions, such as hospitals, get food to their guests while it's still appealing. This is done using a wide array of equipment, from insulated meal carts to induction-heated plates, all of which can be found here at KaTom. Serving appetizing meals isn't only important in keeping your guests happy – a good meal can actually improve patient outcomes.

Meal delivery most commonly is necessary in medical institutions such as hospitals or nursing homes, as your diners cannot make their way to a serving area. When one kitchen has to hand-deliver meals to hundreds of guests, keeping the food edible between the first stop and last is incredibly difficult.

Common Questions About Meal Delivery Systems

What types of meal delivery dishes are available?

This category contains everything short of meal delivery carts, which can be found here. Insulated cups keep hot drinks hot and cold drinks cold, while induction bases can provide heat for plates so guests receive meals at edible temperatures, rather than cold, congealed, and unappetizing. To serve a meal at its best, you'll need appropriate dinnerware for every aspect:

Induction bases – these bases, often called pellet underliners, can be charged with induction stations to release heat into a plate. When paired with the proper induction station, they essentially become cord-free heaters that can keep your food piping hot until it reaches your guest. In addition to making the food more appetizing, it prevents potential bacterial growth during transit, an especially important concern for patients in healthcare settings who can have compromised immune systems.

Insulated domes – these pieces accompany the induction bases, insulating the plates and keeping heat from escaping. Manufacturers make domes and bases that fit together snugly, preventing spills and improving the insulation. We recommend buying matching sets so you don't have to worry about whether or not they'll fit.

Insulated bowls and cups – again, these are vital in keeping food and drink at appropriate temperatures. Insulated items retain warmth for warm product and keep cool items cool, as they slow the transfer of heat between the inside and outside of containers. Insulated bowls and cups also can simplify handling hot items, as the outside of the dish doesn't cause burns.

Ease-of-use items – guests in healthcare facilities and assisted living facilities can have trouble using commercial dinnerware. Dinnerware with wide bases can prevent accidental spills, which is particularly important for items such as coffee mugs, and double-handled mugs enable guests with grip problems to get a secure hold on their drink.

How can meal service equipment possibly improve patient outcomes?

In healthcare settings, patients are exposed to a lot of factors that can dampen their appetite. Medications, medical procedures, and the sights and sounds of illness can all suppress the appetite – right when your guests need food to regain their strength. Add a complicated and potentially slow meal system and dietary restrictions on top of that, and you may find it difficult to get patients to eat. If you have the proper meal delivery systems in place, though, you can at least offer a meal that is hot and appetizing to counteract the other effects of healthcare settings.

Your guests need to eat to recover from illnesses and medical procedures. Patients cannot fight off illness, complete physical therapy, or heal from a surgery without proper nutrition, and the purpose of healthcare foodservice is to provide just that. Doing so well not only improves your survey scores; it will make your patients healthier.