Hospital gastronomy

[Deleted]

Have you ever been hospitalized? It happened to me once after being mugged, when my face was smashed with nose bones sticking out of the flesh. Hint: never try to resist when you are being mugged.

My friends recoiled in horror when they came to visit, and they only came once, the bastards/bitches! I looked really horrible.

Anyway, this finally gave me a chance to see what it is like to actually be in a hospital. I was in the Hôpital Saint Louis in Paris, which is a fine establishment, part of which was built in 1648 (by the architect who built the Place de Vosges in Paris and who inspired Jackson Square in New Orleans), and the rest in 1984 and 1989. I was in the new section, which is probably just as well.

One of my positive experiences was the hospital food. Every day the personnel would come with a menu, and I would tick boxes for what I wanted to eat the next day. Since I had no dietary restrictions, there was quite a bit of choice, and I was impressed with the quality of the food, even though wine is not served in French hospitals (except in the cafeteria downstairs).

Have any of you dined in hospital rooms?

Here is a site showing hospital meals in 11 different countries. I think I want to be hospitalized in Japan.

[imec]

bixa, did your notice all the lovely "veggies"? ;D

[bazfaz]

I was a regular visitor to St Eloi in Montpellier when I had a melanoma. I volunteered to be part of the trial for an anti-skin cancer vaccine (the trials have been abandoned). I was just a day visitor but I got a private room for the physical examination and the vaccination.
Some times I was there over lunch. The standard definitely deteriorated over the 5 years I was on the trial. I never was given a choice but at the beginning I got a good meal of, say, salade nicoise, boeuf bourguignon, cheese and desert. There was always a quarter litre of red wine. By the end of my stint on the trial the wine had disappeared, the cheese was always yogurt, the dessert was an apple, the starter was something like couscous and sweetcorn, etc. The 35 hour week had been introduced so if they had to employ more people they had to make savings somewhere.

[cigalechanta]

Yuk! my husband was in the hospital off and on with his deadly cancer. The food was like pablim. and I was offered a meal several times that was not like his restricted diet,

But still, I'd preferred bring my own lunch when there all day.

[bixaorellana]

Yes, Imec, I did. Thank you. (it is irritating, isn't it?)

Hospitals are so grim anyway, and only a few of the plates shown in that link seem designed to pique the appetite. People who are on reducing or otherwise restricted diets manage at home to prepare food that is appetizing, with luck to the point that they re-train their eating habits. Hospitals have trained nutritionists who can't pull off the same trick.

[lagatta]

Hope they repaired everything well, kerouac!

[Deleted]

Some of the best cafeteria style food to be eaten on the cheap is at some of the local hospitals here. Of course, that's for hospital employees,guests and outpatients.Inpatient food tends to be much more bland and the presentation alone is unappetizing. Somehow,hospitals in the US all have the most putrid colored plates and covers,cups and saucers. Generally ,a rosy flesh color.
My husband worked for the N.O. E.M.S. for 25 years and he could recite which hospital served what food on any given day. He says that some of the best gumbos and other local cuisine came out of these kitchens.

Of the various countries represented,Japan not only looks healthy and appetizing,the presentation is appealing,a cheerful plate,yes! The comments after are interesting as well.

[happytraveller]

The food was the highlight of my one week hospital stay when I had my knee operated. I only wished the portions were a bit bigger.

You would not want to be hospitalized in Italy... You don't get served ANY food there as normally the families provide the patients with food. An ex colleague had a motor bike accident in Italy and all he got was bread, water and coffee while his room mates got served Lasagna and other good stuff from their families.

[hwinpp]

I was in hospital for two nights and couldn't wait to get out. I don't remember the food, so it can't have been that good.
When my girlfriend was in hospital for nearly a year in Siem Reap she got only her favourite stuff and was quite happy. That's because I had to buy her outside food because the hospital food was a bit... lacking...

[imec]

Jun 23, 2009 2:44:31 GMT casimira said:

the presentation alone is unappetizing.

I think you've hit on a huge part of the problem. I recall being hospitalized and being very disappointed by the soup - which was actually quite tasty but was ruined by the smell of the plastic container in which it was heated and served.

[spindrift]

Food in English hospitals isn't that great even though I've only been in the private wings. I would have thought more effort should be made.

[Deleted]

I would imagine that it must be frustrating for all hospitals to see most of the food thrown away uneaten. After all, most of the people are very ill and have no appetite. It must curb the chefs' enthusiasm.

At my mother's nursing home, quite a bit of the food it thrown away as well, but nothing from my mother's empty plate. She will eat anything.

[tillystar]

The food in English hospitals is awful, well it doesn't actually taste that bad, its the smell that wafts down the wards as it is being delivered to the beds

I do believe that people in hospital should have to pay for their food - if they were at home they would be paying for their food so I don't understand why it is totally free. The NHS funds should be to treat people not to feed them. OK people in certain wards/long term stays/children/people on very low incomes could be exempt but I think if people paid the NHS could afford to improve the food a little and maybe ensure it is healthy and appetising rather than a pile of gloop.

When I was in for a week last year Mr Star bought me food in everyday as we live a 5 minute walk from the hospital. I was quite jealous as there was a Chinese girl in the bed opposite me and her mother kept bringing her in the most delicious smelling chinese food. I should have asked her to swap

[Deleted]

I agree Tilly. I always make a point of requesting an itemized bill for "services" rendered during any medical procedure (more out of curiousity then anything else,something else to be outraged about ) and am always astounded by the charges for "dietary services" not to mention the other superfluous charges,some of which I never received.Mr.C.'s retirement from the city provides us both with full medical benefits gratefully but, that doesn't prevent me from being outraged.

[bjd]

I was shocked to see Coke being served in a hospital meal on the pics. It's not what I would call healthy food for someone sick.

I was in hospital for 2 days about 15 years ago and all I remember was that the food was awfully bland. At the maternity hospital it was better, but of course, you aren't sick when you are having a baby, so it's not like regular hospital food.

[bixaorellana]

Tilly, in US hospitals you or your insurance company are paying for the meals and, as C. points out, probably far more than you'd pay in the highest starred restaurant.

Bjd, re: Coke ~~ even though I may drink pop on a maximum of once or twice a year, I believe in the therapeutic value of Coca-Cola. There are times when it can quell queasiness and actually make you feel better all over. My mother used to give it to us when we were sick, along with some toast, and US southerners are absolutely correct in their conviction that it helps a hangover.

[tillystar]

Oh no Bixa, I hope no one in the NHS thinks of charging that much, in fact I hope none of their number crunchers are lurking on here for cost saving ideas



We have it so lucky having it all being free, but it seems mad not pay

[bixaorellana]

Well, it's not really free -- it's paid for with tax money. The rewards are a healthier population. OR, you could have what the US currently has -- the insurance industry holding everyone hostage and people not getting care they need because they can't afford it.

Y'all aren't lucky, you are SMART.

[rikita]

hm, looking at those meals, my own country seems to be the one i least want to go to the hospital in.

[Don Cuevas]

Years ago, a close family member of mine went into the hospital for a hemorrhoidectomy.

Imagine the reaction on the patient's part when the first solid food meal menu options included enchiladas.

"Great! But please, hold the jalapeños."

[auntieannie]

hihhihi, Don C! ;D