Independent Feeding Tray Provides Innovative Dining Product For Patients In Need of Assistance

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Ilana Herman MA, CCC/SLP is a NYS Licensed Speech Pathologist who has been working in SubAcute Long-Term Care/Short Term Rehab facilities for the past 40 years. Herman has her Master’s Degree from the City College of New York (CCNY) and is a professional member of the American Speech -Language- Hearing Association (ASHA). Herman is currently the Senior Speech Pathologist at a leading Nursing Home located in Westchester County, New York. Ilana Herman provides speech & swallowing therapy to patients who have suffered from a Stroke, Parkinson’s Disease, Brain Injury and Neurological diseases as well as assisting patients who are recovering from Orthopedic injury.

Independent Feeding TrayHerman designed and developed the unique adaptive innovation technology known as the Independent Feeding Tray (INFT). The unique technology of the INFT was developed by Herman as she has been frustrated for the patients who have the use of only one hand when attempting to feed themselves. The patients are unable to stabilize the food cups on the meal tray with one hand and experience difficulty with scooping the food from the food cup on the meal tray (i.e. yogurt, ice cream, Jell-O, apple sauce, fruit cup). The patients require a staff member, caregiver or family member to assist them at meals by stabilizing the food cup for the patient. The INFT allows them to be independent at meals as they will be able to scoop the menu item on their own without any assistance required.

The INFT design by Herman serves an important purpose as it provides the patients who have the use of one hand when eating to regain their “Independence and Dignity” when eating. The uniqueness of the INFT is that the molded cup is molded to the right corner of the tray for the patient who only has the use of his/her right hand for eating. The INFT would also offer a tray with a molded cup on the left corner of the tray for the patient who has the use of only his/her left hand for eating. The selection of the appropriate tray is determined by the needs of the individual patient (adult or child).

The tray has four molded flaps on the inside of the upper part of the molded cup molded to the tray. The unique innovation by Herman’s design is that it will hold the food cup securely on the meal tray when a food cup is placed into the molded cup molded to the tray. The food cup is now stabilized and the patient is able to enjoy the menu item without any assistance required by staff or family during meal time. The INFT is not designed for the food to be placed directly into the molded cup but rather it is designed to hold a food cup.

The INFT is also suitable for children with special needs both at school or at home. The innovative technology of the INFT will hold the food cups as well as a milk carton and cereal bowl that the students receive at breakfast and lunch.

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  • Red Gold Sacramento
  • BelGioioso Burrata
  • RAK Porcelain
  • Day & Nite
  • DAVO Sales Tax
  • Atosa USA
  • RATIONAL USA
  • McKee Foodservice
  • Texas Pete
  • T&S Brass Eversteel Pre-Rinse Units
  • Imperial Dade
  • Inline Plastics Safe-T-Chef
  • AyrKing Mixstir

The color of the INFT will be a light red color which is typically used in the healthcare market. The entire INFT will be made of polypropylene (PP) food grade resin. The flaps will be made of thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) on the inside and will also be molded to the upper part of the inside of the cup. The bottom of the tray will have four (4) stoppers on each corner molded on the tray to prevent the tray from moving when the patient is scooping the food from the food cup that has been placed into the molded cup molded to the tray.

The molded cup molded to the tray is also designed to hold the DINEX line of plastic food cups that are manufactured by Carlisle, a leading cup manufacturer that provides soup bowls, coffee cups and dessert cups that are being used at many Healthcare
facilities. The INFT is machine washable to 180 Degree F+. The uniqueness of the INFT is that it will never get lost in the kitchen as the molded cup is molded to the tray.

The INFT design innovation by Herman has generated interest by various healthcare professionals (SLP’s, PT’s & OT’s) as well as Administrators of Nursing Homes as a technology that will allow the patients with the use of one hand to feed themselves independently at mealtime. The added bonus is that staff are now available to meet the other needs of their patients outside of the need to assist with feeding.

The Independent Feeding Tray (INFT) is now being evaluated by the National Sanitation Foundation International (NSF International). The NSF Mark will be molded on to each of the INFT food trays that will be used at Hospitals, Nursing Homes, Rehab Facilities, VA Hospitals, Children with Special Needs as well as home bound patients within the healthcare market.

Herman attended the trade show in March 2020 at the International Restaurant & Foodservice Show held at the Javits Center NYC. The INFT was nominated as a unique innovative device at the show. The INFT was described by many of the trade show guests as “unique”, “useful”, “serves an important purpose”, “useful to those with one hand to feed themselves”, “useful for patients in hospitals, nursing homes, home bound, children with special needs”.

Herman has been working with COVID -19 patients who have arrived at her Nursing Home weak and medically compromised. Many of her patients have expressed that all they want is “to be independent again”. They need assistance with eating their meals due to their weakened state. The INFT will allow them to be independent as they regain their strength and their skills.

The Independent Feeding Tray Inc has developed a business relationship with an Injection Molding plant within India to manufacture the INFT. The INFT is Patent Pending. The company is seeking potential business relations with Healthcare Distributors and / or Dealers to introduce the INFT to the Healthcare market .


For more information, please visit the company website, or contact Ilana at ilana@independentfeedingtray.com or (212) 545-9539.

  • Imperial Dade
  • McKee Foodservice
  • RAK Porcelain
  • DAVO Sales Tax
  • Texas Pete
  • Atosa USA
  • RATIONAL USA
  • Red Gold Sacramento
  • Inline Plastics Safe-T-Chef
  • Day & Nite
  • T&S Brass Eversteel Pre-Rinse Units
  • BelGioioso Burrata
  • AyrKing Mixstir
  • Simplot Frozen Avocado