Hubballi’s oldest eatery serving healthy food to Covid patients

HUBBALLI: It is more than a random eatery in Hubballi, the Hotel Sri Krishna Bhavan is an institution that is, for many, among the quiddities of the city. In these trying times, the restaurant, the oldest in Hubballi, has donned the role of a sensitive citizen and is doing its bit to ease the woes of other residents.
When the lockdown came into force, those working at the eatery decided against returning home, and in the past couple of weeks, have been preparing and distributing food, according to the doctors’ prescribed dietary restrictions, to patients undergoing treatment at Covid Care Centres and those quarantined at home.
The meals, being offered to patients at an affordable price, include fruits, pulses and vegetables. The management of the eatery is preparing and distributing brekafast, lunch and dinner.
Sri Krishna Bhavan owner Krishnamurthy Uchilla said, “Since we have our kitchen and staff, we wanted to supply food for Covid-19 patients at the CCCs, and to those isolated at home. We have since been supplying three meals a day to about 150 patients daily. Those running the CCCs provide us with inputs on what could improve the meal. We take utmost care to ensure that the highest standards of hygiene are maintained.”
He pointed out that there were not many restaurants that were preparing food that would be suitable for Covid-19 patients. “We are delivering food to those patients quarantined at home at their doorstep,” Krishnamurthy said.
Head of department at Sanjeevani Ayurveda Medical College and Hospital on Gokul Road Dr Mahesh Desai said that Covid-19 patients needed to consume food rich in proteins. “This means they need to eat a lot of pulses and vegetables. We decided to order from a vegetarian restaurant – Hotel Sri Krishna Bhavan – on Lamington Road. Nutritious food that is tasty is vital to recovery of patients,” Dr Desai added.
A patient quarantined at his Keshwapur home said that all three members of his family tested positive, and were prescribed a strict diet . “We have been ordering food from Sri Krishna Bhavan. The meals include ragi malt, dal and other items prepared using pulses and vegetables. They also provide us garlic rasam,” he said.