I was taken to the ER at Lenox Hospital in the middle of a summer around 1976 for a serious blood clot. I had to stay in bed, on my back with the IV for three weeks. The food was incredible, and served with a glass of chilled white wine every night.
i'm in agreement with much what is being said here, but I would have to say that here in the Pacific Northwest I've seen a dramatic change in food, quality, and hospitals that I've attended. Our local hospital has an excellent chef who has been doing a great job with locally farmed foods, I think it's a bit of a problem lumping all hospital food as being bad as it gives people the opinion that everywhere is the same thing. It's not.
When Alice and I began the Yale Sustainable food project their avg cost per meal was roughly $1.20! ridiculous. when my husband was recovering in Italy the hospital allowed me to bring in homemade soups to encourage him to eat. he couldn't be released unless he ate!!
I am a nurse and our hospital food is in the top 3 complaints I hear from patients, if not the top complaint. It is interesting though that some of my patients are so happy with the hospital food. My inclination is that they come from a place of food insecurity, poverty or are maybe just happy that they don't have to cook all the time for a few days. I think our food is terrible at the hospital but seeing the patients who love it reminds me to be grateful for the "food privilege" I have.
Another observation I have about our hospital food is that there are not enough offerings for different cultures or different diets required for various illnesses. We always need high protein options for patients and soft purred consistency for patients but the options are dismal. How about hummus? How about befriend beans? Steak is allowed on our 'heart healthy' diets. Our nutritionists should lead the program, not the hospital accountants. I have so many issues with our hospital food program.
I love that you mentioned Santa Cruz school lunches. Almost 50 years later, they are still good. My high schooler likes them - especially the Mexican lunches, which are probably 3 out of 5 days. These days, a food truck rolls up to the gym entrance and supplies the district-approved brunches and lunches.
While recovering from a major operation I had a lot of time to think about the food - the first thing is there is very little to look forward to in hospital - wouldn’t it be amazing if the food was good ?? And promoted healing and getting people out sooner (the hospitals I was in in Toronto and Halifax both had very bad food). I read an article about hospital food in Japan - their food is designed to aid recovery and comes at the perfect temperature - if I remember correctly their carts have chilled and heated sides (!)
I'd like to share that - I was once in a hospital in LA with food service from Wolfgang Puck. Excellent cuisine - I recall steak. I was in there for an orthopaedic accident, not anything internal so no stomach issues, and I had been to several of his restaurants and enjoy his food very much.
The food was wasted on me. I would have been happier with comforting chicken soup and crackers.
This article is fascinating! Thank you so much.
Ruth,
I was taken to the ER at Lenox Hospital in the middle of a summer around 1976 for a serious blood clot. I had to stay in bed, on my back with the IV for three weeks. The food was incredible, and served with a glass of chilled white wine every night.
Marilyn
i'm in agreement with much what is being said here, but I would have to say that here in the Pacific Northwest I've seen a dramatic change in food, quality, and hospitals that I've attended. Our local hospital has an excellent chef who has been doing a great job with locally farmed foods, I think it's a bit of a problem lumping all hospital food as being bad as it gives people the opinion that everywhere is the same thing. It's not.
When Alice and I began the Yale Sustainable food project their avg cost per meal was roughly $1.20! ridiculous. when my husband was recovering in Italy the hospital allowed me to bring in homemade soups to encourage him to eat. he couldn't be released unless he ate!!
seen lippert
Hi Nancy, I love your Pizza restaurant but you’re making me hungry just thinking about it. Bon appetite
Vending machines are a profit center.
I miss listening to this podcast- I felt like I had finally found "the" podcast for myself. I hope more episodes come soon! :)
I am a nurse and our hospital food is in the top 3 complaints I hear from patients, if not the top complaint. It is interesting though that some of my patients are so happy with the hospital food. My inclination is that they come from a place of food insecurity, poverty or are maybe just happy that they don't have to cook all the time for a few days. I think our food is terrible at the hospital but seeing the patients who love it reminds me to be grateful for the "food privilege" I have.
Another observation I have about our hospital food is that there are not enough offerings for different cultures or different diets required for various illnesses. We always need high protein options for patients and soft purred consistency for patients but the options are dismal. How about hummus? How about befriend beans? Steak is allowed on our 'heart healthy' diets. Our nutritionists should lead the program, not the hospital accountants. I have so many issues with our hospital food program.
I love that you mentioned Santa Cruz school lunches. Almost 50 years later, they are still good. My high schooler likes them - especially the Mexican lunches, which are probably 3 out of 5 days. These days, a food truck rolls up to the gym entrance and supplies the district-approved brunches and lunches.
While recovering from a major operation I had a lot of time to think about the food - the first thing is there is very little to look forward to in hospital - wouldn’t it be amazing if the food was good ?? And promoted healing and getting people out sooner (the hospitals I was in in Toronto and Halifax both had very bad food). I read an article about hospital food in Japan - their food is designed to aid recovery and comes at the perfect temperature - if I remember correctly their carts have chilled and heated sides (!)
I'd like to share that - I was once in a hospital in LA with food service from Wolfgang Puck. Excellent cuisine - I recall steak. I was in there for an orthopaedic accident, not anything internal so no stomach issues, and I had been to several of his restaurants and enjoy his food very much.
The food was wasted on me. I would have been happier with comforting chicken soup and crackers.
Japanese school food is also amazing.
https://www.japanesefoodguide.com/japanese-school-lunch/