Franklyn Neckles delivers Dining On Call meals to kids whenever they are ready to eat.
Chef Irma, a trained culinary expert, prepares each patient meal to order.
Your Child's Hospital Stay
YOUR CHILD'S FOOD
Our Dining On Call service makes food more fun for patients staying at Children's Hospital & Research Center Oakland. It’s a “room service” program that lets kids eat what they want, when they want it. Following menu guidelines, kids choose items from our large, child-friendly menu, ordering food whenever they’re hungry. Ask your nurse for the menu.
How Dining On Call works
Children 6 and older may order their own meals by dialing F-O-O-D (3663) on the bedside phone. If your child is younger than 6, have a parent, nurse or clinical assistant place their order at the same number.
Meals are delivered within 45 minutes of calling Dining On Call. If your child wants to eat lunch at about 12:30 p.m., call before 11:45 a.m. Meals may also be pre-ordered up to one day in advance, for delivery at times you specify.
You may order at any time, but we suggest ordering meals at the times below.
• Breakfast: Order from 7:30 - 9:30 a.m.
• Lunch: Order from 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
• Dinner: Order from 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.
To get food after 6:30 p.m., please ask your child’s nurse for a snack from the unit kitchen. Even if a patient forgets to order, we’ll make sure all patients get a meal!
NOTE: Please check with your child’s nurse before bringing any special food for your child. Some patients are on a restricted diet or may need all their food and drink (everything going in and out) monitored.
Nothing by mouth
Kids scheduled for surgery or some special procedures will be “NPO” for four to eight hours beforehand. This means they may have nothing by mouth, including water or juice.
Special diet
Please let your child’s nurse know if your child has food allergies, special requirements, or religious/cultural dietary needs. Kids with diet restrictions may use the room service menu; but we will offer appropriate substitutions. A dietitian or dietetic assistant can answer questions about food selections.
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