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April 20, 2006
Hospital Food
Well, my mom is in the hospital for another night (she's doing well but her hemoglobin was low so they're monitoring her one more night) and we continue to be horrified by hospital food. Most patients are in there for something diet-related, or diet-exacerbated. Yet hospitals continue to feed people evil, high saturated fat, high sugar gak!
Her first night, the meal consisted of a creamy soup (which she threw out -- Mom can't eat cream of any kind, makes her ill), fried chicken (Mom peeled off the breading and ate the chicken underneath), potatoes (Mom ignored), green beans (I think she ate one) and a chocolate cupcake (which she donated to a co-worker of mine who loves chocolate.) Super sugary Iced Tea in a box on the side -- Mom ignored and drank water and hot tea with one packet of sugar. The next day they made her an omlette for breakfast, and I was glad she got some protein. Tomorrow she's having an eggwhite omlette. Dinner last night was meatloaf, which at least had some protein, and she ordered a salad, side of broccoli, and ignored the dessert. She had a cup of sorbet that I brought her for her birthday (yes, she turned 61 in the hospital) and gave the cake that the hospital kitchen sent her for her birthday to the nurses.
I am looking forward to getting her home where I can cook her high protein, high nutrient food. I am even going to get some flax oil into her. I'm picking up a fresh turkey tomorrow that we can cook for her and her cat to enjoy -- lots of lean protein there. She's also a huge fan of my shrimp and scallops dishes, so I can make lots of those. For breakfast I can make my fancy eggwhite, shiitake and nonfat cheddar omlettes, which she has had and likes. I'll also fix her lots of veggies, and we can't forget the fruit. My mom is a fruit freak. Especially mangoes.
It really distresses me that hospital food is so horrible. I knew it would be -- I've read tons about how the diets they feed heart patients make them have their second heart attack right there in the hospital. But it's even more horrifying if you're sitting there. I am so glad she's coming home tomorrow where I can take care of her. Luckily, her apartment is three minutes from my office so I should be able to come over two to three times a day to cook, clean, pet cat, and generally entertain mom. MR is being angelic, and helped her out with housework right before she left for surgery. He's had everything well under control on our homefront while I've been away at the hospital, and my cats continue to be alive.
Meanwhile, Philo is acting weird again and I think I need to take her to the vet. Hopefully they can see her on Saturday, and Mom will be well enough that I can take Philo to the vet without worrying about Mom too much. Too bad they can't just go to the same doctor -- it would be much more convenient.
Posted by april at April 20, 2006 8:47 PM
Comments
Yep, hospital food sucks. I have been in hospital several times in the last few years, and the food was so bad, I wouldn't eat anything. My husband brought my food to me in containers every day, and the nurses let me keep it in the fridge on the ward.
Glad to hear your Mum is O.K. Sounds like you're going to have to provide yummy recovery diet high in iron :-) (bring on those cruciferous veggies!) She'll certainly make a very fast recovery with you looking after her.
Hope Philo gets better soon as well.
Lindsay
Posted by: Lindsay at April 20, 2006 11:31 PM
The entire food situation in hospitals is appalling here in Canada as well. The gak served in nursing homes here is even worse: it's really dreadful nutrition-wise and everything tastes like crap. It's shameful, really. Your mom is very lucky to have people around her who can provide delicious, nutritious food. There is no question that she will heal and get well twice as fast. JD :-)
Posted by: Judith at April 21, 2006 6:22 PM
Hospital food sucks, sucks, sucks. It sucks universally and globally. My British friend Steve had an emergency when he was visiting me, and he ended up staying in the American Hospital here for 2 weeks. They had menues with some selections but it's the way they prepare them or something, he gained like 10 pounds in those 2 weeks. And I've seen the "diet" foods. They feed macaroni and cheese and pudding to diabetics for god's sake!
I am happy mommy is doing well Aprilitamu :)
Posted by: zeynep at April 22, 2006 12:45 PM
Hospital food sucks, sucks, sucks. It sucks universally and globally. My British friend Steve had an emergency when he was visiting me, and he ended up staying in the American Hospital here for 2 weeks. They had menues with some selections but it's the way they prepare them or something, he gained like 10 pounds in those 2 weeks. And I've seen the "diet" foods. They feed macaroni and cheese and pudding to diabetics for god's sake!
I am happy mommy is doing well Aprilitamu :)
Posted by: zeynep at April 22, 2006 12:46 PM