title: Catering in a large hospital--does serving from a buffet system meet the patients' needs?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  It has been suggested that serving from a buffet system may increase food intake. This observational study estimates the energy intake in a representative group of patients admitted to a hospital, where the food is served from a buffet system.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and sixteen random patients were screened according to the NRS-2002 system and the energy requirements were calculated. The type of food ordered for the patients and the energy intake were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighty had an NRS score of 0-2, i.e. not at nutritional risk and 36 a score > or = 3, i.e. at nutritional risk. Among patients with NRS score > or = 3 only 50% were ordered the correct menu. Only 50% of the patients had an energy intake < 75% of their requirements. In the group of patients, who took < 50% of energy requirement more than 90% came from the main courses and very little from snacks.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In-patients at nutritional risk focus should be on ordering the correct type of food for the main courses and especially on increasing the intake from snacks.
authors.affiliation: Hospital kitchen and Nutritional Unit, Herlev University Hospital, Denmark.
authors.forename: Marie Feldskov
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.forename: Michael Allerup
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Nielsen
authors.forename: Camilla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Biltz
authors.forename: Winni
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Seidelin
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Almdal
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002755:Choice Behavior; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005518:Food Preferences; D005521:Food Service, Hospital; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000178:diet therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D018570:Risk Assessment
chemical_list: D004044:Dietary Proteins