When most people think of hospital food, they imagine bland, unappetizing dishes like chicken pot pie and mashed potatoes, or maybe a plate of beef and vegetables. And while a bad meal is rare, many hospitals have such a poor reputation for food that it becomes an issue of public concern, and not just because a few patients have actually been poisoned by their meals.
In fact, the way hospital meals are prepared has a huge impact on the health and wellness of patients, visitors, and staff. In addition to being a significant source of nutrition, healthy eating is an important part of recovery and healing. But with budget concerns and a lack of cooking skills, it is easy for hospitals to fall short.
The good news is that more and more hospitals are getting on board and making some serious changes to their menus and kitchen operations. In one example, Sodersjukhuset (Sweden) ditched their supplier and built a central kitchen to prepare meals fresh on-site, then quickly chill them, so they can be easily heated in the wards. This system allows the hospital to serve meals that are higher quality, with less fat and salt, and with more nutrients.
Whether they are providing a vegetarian lasagna or Moroccan vegetable tagine, these meals are not only tasty and filling, but they help patients make a lasting commitment to eat more healthful foods. In addition, many of these plant-based options are high in fiber, so they can help reduce blood pressure and aid healing.
Hospitals are positioned to save lives, but they are also meant to be institutions that heal people. This requires treating patients with respect, which includes feeding them well. In fact, it is a good idea to bring in your own healthy snacks for your loved ones while they are staying at the hospital. They will appreciate you taking the initiative, and it could make their stay much more pleasant.
As for the actual food in a hospital, it depends on where you are, but in general most countries have a standardized menu that follows government nutritional guidelines. If you’re in a Western hospital, a typical lunch might be a sandwich or a salad with meat, and for dinner you might get a pasta dish, roasted chicken, or a bowl of soup. In contrast, a Swedish hospital might offer mushroom risotto and a chocolate cookie.
As far as food goes, it depends on where you are, but there is still a long way to go when it comes to changing the hospital dining experience. While the current situation is disappointing, it’s heartening to see that some hospitals are making positive changes and recognizing that the way we eat has a direct impact on how we feel. And that is what matters most. We need our hospitals to be places of healing and recovery, not just for us as individuals but for the world as a whole.