Good hospital food -- does it exist?
Hospital food. Yuck, right? Ranks right up there with bland school lunches and nuked airline "meals," goes the stereotype. Well, not all hospital food is lousy, according to the folks at Chowhound, a great site for restaurant reviews, recipes and good foodie tips.
There's an amusing post on a Chowhound message board asking about the quality of food in hospitals around the country. People have chimed in with tales of unclassifiable "meat covered in sauce" and "gummy oatmeal" to tasty Asian stir fry and enchiladas so scrumptious one patient didn't want to go home. The details are great. Hilarious stuff.
Some folks said the food was so bad they lost weight in the hospital and others said they were so hungry from their medical problems any old crumb was delicious. And still other raved about the selection of fresh veggies and inventive meals. Who knew?
Looking for hospital food that isn't crummy? There are quite a few corners of the Internet devoted to the search for tasty hospital cuisine. Hospital Food, encourages people to post photos of their meals and even includes a link to a popular Facebook group devoted to hospital eats.
Hospitals have been working to step it up lately with tastier, healthier meals, after enduring the reputation of doling out processed foods with zero flavor. Organic produce, hormone-free meats and local ingredients have been making their way to hospital kitchens. Some hospital cafeterias have gotten downright glitzy, with low-fat high-flavor buffets. And local hospitals such as Johns Hopkins and the University of Maryland Medical Center even sponsor farmer's markets.
So, is it all bad? Tell us your hospital food experiences.
AP photo.
Comments
I've been amazed at what's been served to some of my family when they've had hospital stays ... iceberg lettuce, canned fruit and bread that couldn't possibly be whole grain, on the cardiac unit? Way to promote healthy eating, guys.
Posted by: Liz Kay | November 5, 2009 10:01 AM
I was in the hospital for three days with a bad case of diverticulitis. I was on a clear liquid diet the whole time and would have been ecstatic to have been served any kind of solid food, whether it was hospital food or not. I almost panicked when my "meal" of chicken broth and jello was late being delivered after the rest of the floor had been served.
Posted by: Diane | November 5, 2009 11:11 AM
I spent only 2 days at the Harbor Hospital last spring and was shocked by the horrible food quality. If you take _any_ frozen microwaveable food in any supermarket, that would be better than what's served there! Yuck, yuck, yuck!
I wasn't really ill myself (just having a baby) and, fortunately, my husband brought food from elsewhere. But I wondered how could ill people with no relatives survive there... Btw, for what the hospitals charge per room nowadays they should have the meals catered by a French chef.
Posted by: Jelena | November 5, 2009 1:46 PM
My grandfather was admitted to Johns Hopkins back in July. I have to say that he really enjoyed the food and I enjoyed the leftovers.
SJMC has a nice salad bar in the cafeteria for employees and visitors.
Posted by: NotableM | November 5, 2009 4:56 PM
I spent about two weeks at Sinai last fall. The food was horrible. I sent out to Whole Foods for salads and energy drinks the entire time. Unconscionable that a hospital doesn't understand, or chooses not to serve, quality food.
Posted by: David Egan | November 5, 2009 6:44 PM
I've worked in a few hospitals over the past 30 years and believe the food has gone from bad to better. The saying is, "you get well here so you can go home and get some sleep and eat well." I've seen a patient scheduled for open heart surgery beg his wife for a double cheese burger, fries and shake because, "the doc's are gonna fix it tomorrow".
When it becomes cost affective the food will get better.
However, every unhealthy restaurant near a hospital delivers. Everyone knows doctors and nurses are always eating fast food and unhealthy take-out.
Posted by: Carolyn | November 5, 2009 10:32 PM
Ugh!
Hospital/Institutional food across the USA HAS to be pseudo-horrible because you cannot prepare hundreds or thousands of meals without degradation.
Military meals are Gourmet by comparison and in fact can be excellent. The Coasties make the best I've ever had.
An old Buddy said the P.G. County Jail where he was held briefly had ONE good Entree called 'Spooge' which was (Apparently) a fried glutenous mix of instant potatoes and canned corned beef and a half gallon of TABASCO per 1000 inmates and a few dozen eggs to bind the gruel together. He swears the 'Stuff' was great and he is a Gourmet Cook here in Baltimore.
Posted by: Etek | November 7, 2009 8:03 PM
The best hospital foods I ever ate was at St Francis/Select Specialty Hospital in Wilmington DE. Their salad plates were inspired, with lots of fresh veggies and fruits and plenty of protein.
Posted by: Sandy List | November 10, 2009 1:05 PM
The world's best hospital food........
John's Hopkins Marburg Pavilion.
Private chef and great food! Can be ordered from other parts of the hospital
as well.
Posted by: Judith | November 11, 2009 9:34 AM