Hospital Does Away With Hot Patient Breakfasts

Toledo Hospital is eliminating hot breakfast options for patients in a cost-cutting move, reports the Toledo Blade. Instead of scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, pancakes, and other traditional hot breakfast items, adult and pediatric patients will receive "hotel-style" continental items such as oatmeal, cereal, fruit, toast, bagels, peanut butter, yogurt, doughnuts, and muffins.

The change is expected to save the hospital more than $100,000 a year in food and labor costs. Toledo Hospital typically serves up to 600 patient breakfasts daily, with many already consisting of cold options like fruit and cereal at patients’ request, a hospital spokesperson told the Blade. The hospital’s retail cafeteria will continue to offer hot breakfast options.