Hackensack hospital launches 'date night' meal program for new moms
Hospital officials said the program is intended to give parents a chance to relax and reconnect before returning home with their newborn.
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New parents at Hackensack Meridian Palisades Medical Center are being treated to a gourmet "Date Night" meal designed to help them celebrate the birth of their child before leaving the hospital.
The celebration meal is served in patients' rooms and features an elevated dining experience with tablecloths, fine china and white-glove service. Menu options include dishes, such as honey-glazed wild-caught salmon or wild mushroom ravioli, followed by chocolate lava cake and sparkling cider.
Hospital officials said the program is intended to give parents a chance to relax and reconnect before returning home with their newborn.
"We believe the birth of a child is a momentous occasion that deserves a true celebration, not just for the baby, but for the parents who are embarking on this incredible new journey," Jennifer Kopelman, administrative director of nursing for maternal child services and maternal fetal medicine, said in a statement. "We want their last night with us to be a cherished memory."
Donna M. Zaccagni, senior director of nutrition and food management, said the program combines nutritious food with an enhanced dining experience as part of the hospital's focus on patient-centered care.
Palisades Medical Center recently earned U.S. News & World Report's "Best Hospital for Maternity Care" designation and broke ground on a $50 million expansion that will add a new emergency department, which is expected to open in 2026.
(Photo Credit: Hackensack Meridian Palisades Medical Center)
