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Hospital Food
Started
by Heather
on October 24, 2009
I wasn't sure where to put this. My boyfriend is going to be in the hospital having a kidney transplant in about a month. He will be there for a while under quarantine, and I was wondering if anyone had information on what the deal with hospital food is? He is vegetarian transitioning to vegan and he is worried about what he will be able to eat while he is there. Am I allowed to bring in food for him (we will be in NYC so finding awesome food won't be a problem), or does the hospital have special meals? Should we mention something before the surgery? I am clueless.
definitly tell them ahead of time you are vegan. and they hopefully will bring you vegan food. but!!! they are the worst...hospitals have such gross food. so be prepared. bring your own food too. so if he doesnt have anything good he has some back up.. godd luck!
thanks, Alicia. I will definitely call them ahead of time. I have to make sure I will be able to bring in food for him. I don't know what the restrictions are in quarantine. It will feel so much better when I have him home and I can make him strong with good food.
OMG!! I was in the hospital in Dec. 08 when I found out I have a brain tumor. I put down on the menu I was vegan or vegetarian, whichever they could do for me. They did not have one healthy thing. It was Bread, pudding, desserts, coffee, milk, etc. I picked water and noodles!! I finally said "dont u have a can of fruit?" after 3 days I got some peaches. SAD that our hospitals are the last to even have decent non processed foods. Seems like vegetarian/vegan is far off in hospitals. I'd rather have the IV bag.
oh no! I am so worried that I won't be able to bring him food since he will be in quarantine! The last thing he needs is disgusting processed food when his immune system is already screwed! Thanks for telling me that, I am going to start looking into it now even though I have a month or so.
Definitely emphasize and circle the dietary restrictions part of the paperwork he'll fill out when admitted. Make sure they also know the difference between vegan and vegetarian, my physician doesn't even get that. 10 years ago I was in the hospital for a few days after back surgery and every single time I'd wake up to a tray of food it was full of meat. Despite circling veg on my paperwork and telling the person each time they picked up my untouched tray (hooray if there was toast or a side of corn!) I still got meat. Don't hesitate to ask the nurses for the name of the manager of the food services (don't complain to the nurses though, it's not their fault) and go down there and politely explain any problems with his food. Chances are they will be willing to work with you to get it right, they don't want to be known as letting patients starve. The manager I caught while doing customer service rounds in my ward right away phoned down to the cafeteria and asked "does her paperwork say vegetarian on it?.... Well she still is!". My next tray was finally edible (for hospital food anyway...).
Definitely ask his doctor too if it is okay to bring foods in. Being immunocompromised he may not be allowed fresh veggies or fruit that have the skin still on them due to the fact bacteria can harbor on the skins. Good luck hope it all goes well.
i just got out of the hospital for a maternity stay and the food was dreadful! their vegetarian selection consisted of grilled cheese, which i guess could be ok depending on how its done, but there its fried in tons of fat! it was so oily and gross...all the condiments are trans fatty margarine or heavy cream for the coffee...i was amazed how a hospital could give their patients trans fats and other unhealthy spreads and oils! the fruit was canned and the salad was iceberg lettuce......so sad. i didn't really eat anything nutritious at all, and it was the first days of breastfeeding which is what i had to pass to my newborn son......i've made up for it since!! really though, there should be better regulations on the state of hospital foods since it is a place of health and wellness and diet is an integral part. how can they tell you to stay well and eat right when thats the slop they send to you???
I was appalled at the selections of food I was offered at the hospital here. This was before I was vegan but I had just lost 45 pounds and did not eat any processed foods. They offered me fried chicken, hamburgers, dessert came with both lunch and dinner- it was awful! I learned you can request other items and finally got healthier foods. I hope i won't need another hospital stay anytime soon! My stepdad is vegan and just got out of the hospital and they had a great selection of food at his local hospital! I'd definitely call then ahead of time! Good luck!
I went to visit a friend of mine in the hospital and has to walk past a McDonalds in the hospital. It was rather disturbing.
I believe I read somewhere that hospitals subcontract most of the patient meal preparation - thus there is very little food prep being done on premise.
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