"When a patient has strict dietary needs, I always ensure to prepare their meal separately. This limits the chance of cross-contamination and mix-ups between meals. In the hospital I worked at previously, we would then put a sticker on the meal's lid listing the dietary need, such as no meat or pureed. When I deliver the meal, I double-check the patient's name and dietary needs before giving them their food."

 "If a patient complained about their meal, I would sit down with them and discuss what they didn't like about it. I would ask them what type of food they prefer and find a nutritional substitution for them. I then would follow up after I made the changes to ensure the patient enjoys their future meals."

 "I completed a dietary food service worker program at Niagara College three years ago. When I got my statement of completion, I did training courses to get my food handler certification and my HACCP certificate to learn more about handling food safely. I then started working as a dietary aide at a long-term care home where I have been for the last year."

  "The biggest challenge I face as a dietary aide is working with unhappy patients. No one wants to be in a hospital or under someone else's care, so they're understandably upset sometimes. This can make it hard to encourage them to eat or open up about their dietary history and the food they enjoy. To overcome this, I don't take their attitude personally and am as patient as possible. I try to get to know my patients by talking to them and eventually they open up and trust me to take care of them."

  "I have never created a dietary plan on my own, but I work closely with the dietician to prepare meal plans. I talk to the patients and get to know their diet history, needs, and preferences. I take this information back to the dietician and we plan well-balanced meals that suit the patients' needs. I monitor the patients on their new dietary plans and make suggestions to the dietician if the patient isn't enjoying certain aspects."

  "In my previous role as a dietary aide at a hospital, I mainly prepared and delivered meals to patients. I also recorded food intake and updated the dietician on patients' needs or requests to create successful meal plans. Once I delivered all the meals, I would wash dishes, clean my workspace, and start preparing for the next service."

  "When a new patient comes in, I always start by checking their current file or past files with other facilities for their dietary history. If they don't have any information, I will talk to the patient and ask them questions about their history. If they are unable to communicate with me, I will contact their family members and past physicians for their input."

  "Meal plans will change for every patient, but a balanced diet should contain a mix of food from the five food groups: fruit, vegetables, grains, protein, and dairy. Food should have a high nutrient content, and patients should drink lots of water throughout the day. Serving sizes for a balanced diet will vary depending on age, gender, and medical conditions."

  "If a patient refused to eat, I would ask them why. Maybe they don't like the food, maybe they aren't hungry, maybe they aren't feeling well. If they aren't able to tell me, I would give them some time and offer the meal again. If they still refuse, I would try different meals until we found something they liked."

  "To maintain a clean and safe workplace, I constantly wash and sanitize my hands. I use gloves when necessary as well, such as when I am delivering food, and change them constantly. When preparing meals, I clean as I go to limit messes and prevent cross-contamination by keeping ingredients and special meals separate. When I'm done, I'll sanitize the workspace for the next person."

  "My greatest skills as a dietary aide are my in-depth industry knowledge and strong communication skills. Having worked as a dietary aide for three years, I have learned a lot about safe and efficient food handling techniques. This allows me to provide excellent service to every patient. My strong communication skills help me build trusting relationships with my patients and dieticians as well, making it easier to create effective meal plans."

  "I love to cook. I grew up helping my dad in the kitchen at work as a chef, so I've always been around industrial kitchens. This gave me experience with ovens, blenders, dishwashers, different types of knives, microwaves, and much more. I am a quick learner, so I am sure I could adapt to your kitchen equipment and appliances easily."

  "Communication skills are extremely important as a dietary aide. They help me listen to instructions from the dietician, work well with my colleagues, talk to patients about their meals and needs, and create detailed files."

  "I previously worked in a hospital as a dietary aide, so I was always walking around. This kept me physically fit enough to meet the other physical demands of the job, but I also went to the gym three days a week. This strengthened my muscles and made it easier to stand for long periods and lift heavy items."

 "I always start my day by planning my to-do list. This helps me stay organized and ensures I get everything done on time. When preparing and delivering meals, I do so in order by room or table number so I am not constantly going back and forth in the facility. I also clean as I go as it makes doing a big clean at the end of my shift much easier."