Intermountain’s Nutrition Services team is trying new ways to help busy caregivers get healthy food for their families without having to head to the grocery store. They’re providing inexpensive produce bags and other necessities, as well meal kits in some locations.
Eggs, bread, and milk are available at all Intermountain cafés at cost. Produce bags are available for $10 at all cafés on Wednesdays and/or Fridays. The pickup days and times vary by location, so check with your local Nutrition Services team for more information.
Some facilities are also trying a new Busy Bee Meals program, which offers take-home meals caregivers can order and pick up after their shift.
“My kids absolutely loved the meal I brought home yesterday,” says Alyssa McKay, a pharmacist at American Fork Hospital. “I even got a teenage hug, which is more precious than gold. Nutrition Services has been so awesome. Thanks for making the Busy Bee meal option.”
The café at Bear River Valley Hospital is also offering curbside meal pickup.
“Customers can call into our cafeteria and place an order,” explains Heather Ann Marsh, Nutrition Services manager. “When they arrive at the facility, they pull into one of the designated stalls and call our phone number. Then one of our caregivers takes out the order out to the customer.”
Heather says the service has been great for both caregivers and patients.
“We’d been doing this for about three days, when one of our regular customers — an elderly lady who’s going through her second round of chemotherapy — said what a nice service we’re providing for our community and also her family,” Heather says. “She was grateful to still be able to pick up a warm, healthy meal for her and her husband.”
When will café dining areas reopen? The state is reopening restaurant dining areas, but the Nutrition Services team will keep all our café dining areas closed for a while longer. The Hub Café at Lake Park is also officially closed until further notice.
Amelia Stocking, patient meal services director, says, “Nutrition Services would like to keep our dining areas closed through a potential surge. We feel this will help prevent people from congregating and reduce the spread within our facilities.”