Rusty the Rhino programme brings fun healthy foods to Netcare Hospital countrywide
JOBURG — "The age-specific menus are designed to be healthy yet enticing for children and include 'kiddie favourites' with a wholesome yet tasty twist."
Netcare Linksfield Hospital has welcomed a new and innovative catering programme specially designed for all their paediatric wards nationwide to help make hospital food a little more exciting.
The Compass Group and Medirest, Netcare’s catering service supplier, will introduce what they call the Rusty the Rhino programme.
“The programme heralds a new approach to paediatric catering in that the enticing menus not only offer nutritious meals designed to appeal to junior palates, but the friendly rhinoceros mascot is expected to make the hospital experience more pleasant for children,” said Louis van der Hoven, general manager of the hospital.
“When children are admitted to hospital they invariably feel anxious about being away from home. At Netcare hospitals we strive to make our paediatric wards a welcoming environment for our young patients.
“In our experience, children who are unwell and are in the unfamiliar surroundings of a healthcare facility often require a little extra coaxing to encourage them to eat, as maintaining good nutrition is a very important part of their recovery process.”
Ambassador for Medirest and renowned celebrity chef, Rueben Riffel was very involved in the launch of the programme.
“I have always been passionate about good food as it is such an integral part of our daily lives and can enhance almost any experience. Being a father myself, I know that children are often very particular about which foods they are prepared to try,” Riffel said.
Sometimes kids do not enjoy eating healthier foods such as veggies, but this programme seeks to incorporate many other factors that will ease the children into their nutritional diets.
“Rusty the Rhino brings a new element of fun to meal times for children in hospital. The age-specific menus are designed to be healthy yet enticing for children and includes ‘kiddie favourites’ with a wholesome yet tasty twist.”
“We look forward to seeing the smiles of our young patients as they enjoy the special children’s menus and fun activities during their stay at Netcare hospitals,” Van der Hoven concluded.
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Edited by Stacey Woensdregt
