FREE food tasting sessions at Whipps Cross University Hospital saw the public sampling a range of Asian, vegetarian and halal dishes on Monday.

The hospital served up the new dishes to assess the food's suitability for the patients' menu.

Performance manager Janet Coverdale said: "This session gives patients, staff and members of the public the opportunity to get involved to taste and evaluate the food we provide. We want people to let us know what they think about the new dishes and to contribute ideas for our patients' menus."

At a previous tasting session the Patients' Panel members were given the opportunity to see developments made since the trust offered menus featuring 'better hospital food' and 'leading chef's' dishes.

Hospital food is provided by Lifespan catering. This company's new 'cook-chill' food service is given to patients to offer them a wider choice.

Whipps is also trying to improve its patients' menus by including snack boxes for patients who have missed a meal if they were asleep or having an X-ray.

Biscuits and afternoon tea cakes have been introduced with the drinks rounds to help improve the nutrition intake of patients and reduce the length of time between meals.