Hospital Food Suggestions!

Ninkyou
Ninkyou Posts: 6,666 Member
edited November 10 in Food and Nutrition
So here's the deal. In 6 days (or less, if I go on my own) I'm going to be having my second child. I'm being induced (for medical reasons). Obviously, not my first rodeo, but my last one was 6 years ago, and the details have become a bit fuzzy, lol. Anyway, I know know this is totally YMMV and depends on the hospital and yada yada, BUT, what/were are the BEST TASTING dishes you've had (if any)? And I don't mean the separate cafe/restaurants. I mean the food actually served to the patients. If memory serves me correctly from last time, my hospital had a menu where you pick things like the main dish, sides, dessert, etc.

I should also add, I'm not looking to budget calories or anything like that. I could really care less if the dish is 3000 calories or 270 calories. I'm not about to care about that stuff until after my body has healed and ready for it. What I'm looking for are the foods that don't taste like a paper plate. Haha. I mean, if worse comes to worst DH will bring me something to eat, but if there's something that is good (and hospital food has come a long way, and probably more so since my last time there), I would at least want to try it. Except seafood and melons. I can't eat those. :(
«1

Replies

  • RodaRose
    RodaRose Posts: 9,562 Member
    The doctor will order the food for you the first day and if you are there longer you will be able to choose within certain limited options --- like coffee or tea for breakfast and chicken or another option for lunch. The meals are designed to fit a calorie count even though they do not tell you that. You probably need to talk to someone at the hospital before you go in. The head of nursing or head of the kitchen could tell you more about the food.
  • AmigaMaria001
    AmigaMaria001 Posts: 489 Member
    This threat must be joke!
  • BlueBombers
    BlueBombers Posts: 4,064 Member
    I know the hospital I stayed in when I had my two boys had the worst food ever. Even the toast was bad. My mom would bring me home cooked meals and I ate that instead.
  • abatonfan
    abatonfan Posts: 1,120 Member
    I was in the hospital about a year ago and was on a reduced carb diet (no more than 60g per meal while my doctors tried to get me out of DKA). My hospital ended up making a really good cheese omelet that I ended up having for breakfast the three days that I was there.
  • Ninkyou
    Ninkyou Posts: 6,666 Member
    This threat must be joke!
    Why would it be a joke? Food is serious business! I don't want to be stuck with the worst tasting hospital food. I want it to at least be tolerable.

    RodaRose wrote: »
    The doctor will order the food for you the first day and if you are there longer you will be able to choose within certain limited options --- like coffee or tea for breakfast and chicken or another option for lunch. The meals are designed to fit a calorie count even though they do not tell you that. You probably need to talk to someone at the hospital before you go in. The head of nursing or head of the kitchen could tell you more about the food.

    From my last stay 6 years ago, the first meal was ordered for me, but after that I was given a menu of things to choose from.

  • MB_Positif
    MB_Positif Posts: 8,897 Member
    This threat must be joke!

    What's so threatening about it?

    OP, it really does depend on the hospital. I remember thinking the hospital where I had my son had gross food, but when I had brain surgery I could have stayed at U Penn for weeks.
  • WinoGelato
    WinoGelato Posts: 13,454 Member
    I would go with caviar and vodka personally... :p
  • ew_david
    ew_david Posts: 3,473 Member
    I ate grilled cheese for two days. Srs. Everything else looked/sounded disgusting.
  • WinoGelato
    WinoGelato Posts: 13,454 Member
    I don't remember any pleasant hospital food experiences other than the first real food I was allowed after my c-section with my youngest - it was a sausage egg and cheese biscuit and good gravy did it taste good... but I hadn't had real food in 36 hours so it might as well have been a paper plate!

    I think I always tended toward grilled cheese and stuff like that when I was there, and sent my husband to Panera for soup one day because I had missed the lunch service trying to figure out the whole nursing thing...
  • Ninkyou
    Ninkyou Posts: 6,666 Member
    _dracarys_ wrote: »
    I ate grilled cheese for two days. Srs. Everything else looked/sounded disgusting.
    Kruggeri wrote: »
    I don't remember any pleasant hospital food experiences other than the first real food I was allowed after my c-section with my youngest - it was a sausage egg and cheese biscuit and good gravy did it taste good... but I hadn't had real food in 36 hours so it might as well have been a paper plate!

    I think I always tended toward grilled cheese and stuff like that when I was there, and sent my husband to Panera for soup one day because I had missed the lunch service trying to figure out the whole nursing thing...

    Awesome. I love me some grilled cheese to begin with... so if it's an option, I will try it!

    With DD#1 I was starving by the time I had her. I hadn't eaten before my induction. Live and learn. This time I'll have something like oatmeal to hold me over (hopefully). Also, I will be bringing a snack bag, for hubby and for after I deliver. I cannot, for the life of me remember any of the food I ate at the hospital 6 years ago though, so I guess it can't have been that bad. But I seriously feel like a food snob these days, lol.

    Biscuits and gravy sounds really good now.... mmm....
  • williams969
    williams969 Posts: 2,528 Member
    edited January 2015
    The hospital food here is awful. It all sort of tastes the same (bland). I went with eggs, bacon, and toast for breakfast (those should taste like they should), can't remember lunch (I think a sandwich wrap with fruit or yogurt), and we got a "Celebration" steak dinner with non-alcoholic champagne and cheesecake (which all WAS pretty good--but may have been the fact that's when I FINALLY got my Lortab).

    I think sticking to simple foods that aren't "recipes" like baked potatoes or eggs, salads, sandwiches, steamed veggies, chicken breast, etc., and you'll be in alright shape. Stay away from "casserole" or "chicken pot pie", unless the nurses recommend them.

    Actually, just ask the nurses what's good and what to avoid. They'll know.
  • Ninkyou
    Ninkyou Posts: 6,666 Member
    edited January 2015
    I think sticking to simple foods that aren't "recipes" like baked potatoes or eggs, salads, sandwiches, steamed veggies, chicken breast, etc., and you'll be in alright shape. Stay away from "casserole" or "chicken pot pie", unless the nurses recommend them.

    Actually, just ask the nurses what's good and what to avoid. They'll know.


    Awesome! Thanks for the suggestion! I'll definitely ask the nurses too!

    Mmmm cheesecake.
  • obscuremusicreference
    obscuremusicreference Posts: 1,320 Member
    I was just about to say, your nurses have tried pretty much everything you're going to be offered. I can tell you what's good at the hospital near me, but that doesn't mean those same dishes will be good at the one you'll be in.
  • Ninkyou
    Ninkyou Posts: 6,666 Member
    I was just about to say, your nurses have tried pretty much everything you're going to be offered. I can tell you what's good at the hospital near me, but that doesn't mean those same dishes will be good at the one you'll be in.

    Right. I know this is VERY YMMV. :)

  • GiveMeCoffee
    GiveMeCoffee Posts: 3,556 Member
    Most hospitals yes sadly I've been in a few, you can request things like grilled cheese, blt, etc that isn't on the menu and that's usually the best tasting, plus lots of ice cream.

    Do I need to send you a Talenti care package?
  • jgnatca
    jgnatca Posts: 14,464 Member
    There's no way you can plan ahead for this. It will all depend on the relative skill and talent of food service of the hospital you stay in. There's no way you can control the time your food will sit in warmer trays waiting to get to you. I assume you are in the US? I hear the hospital stays for new moms is blessedly short.

    My last experience is of no help to you because I was on a highly restricted liquid diet after surgery. When the attendants dropped off my tray they looked sorry for me.

    Similarly, my dad a diabetic and in hospital emergency to check on bad kidney numbers, was served the most awful breakfast. One slice white toast. Jam. Tea with sugar. It became our running joke and I have a delightful picture of dad whisking off the cover of his latest "treat". He still talks about the micro-thin slice of pork roast he got served for Easter.
  • Ninkyou
    Ninkyou Posts: 6,666 Member
    Most hospitals yes sadly I've been in a few, you can request things like grilled cheese, blt, etc that isn't on the menu and that's usually the best tasting, plus lots of ice cream.

    Do I need to send you a Talenti care package?

    That. would. be. phenomenal. ;)
    You've given me an idea for the day before... and it involves Talenti.. probably a chocolate variety. Mmmm.
  • WinoGelato
    WinoGelato Posts: 13,454 Member
    TIL today. YMMV! I feel so much hipper now. Is that what the cool kids say? Hipper? Or should I say Hipsterer now? Ok I should just stop before I further betray my lack of forum slang/abbreviations...
  • Ninkyou
    Ninkyou Posts: 6,666 Member
    jgnatca wrote: »
    There's no way you can plan ahead for this. It will all depend on the relative skill and talent of food service of the hospital you stay in. There's no way you can control the time your food will sit in warmer trays waiting to get to you. I assume you are in the US? I hear the hospital stays for new moms is blessedly short.

    Yes, my induction will be Thursday. If my first child is any indication and there are no complications, I'll be there Thursday & Friday, and I'm supposed to be discharged before 11am on Saturday.

    Really, depending on how fast things go I'm looking at somewhere around 4-6 meals. I'm not sure about snacks, but I'll be bringing a snack bag for munchies.
  • geneticsteacher
    geneticsteacher Posts: 623 Member
    I was surprised to find during my hospitalization in November, that I was given what looked like a restaurant menu - grilled salmon, salads, bacon!!!, mac & cheese, so many to chose from! After 4 days of ice chips, everything tasted great. No more checking off menu items on a card either - everything done by phone and any special requests were gladly fulfilled (as long as you were not on a special diet).
  • This content has been removed.
  • WinoGelato
    WinoGelato Posts: 13,454 Member
    I am sure someone (your doctor, or another friend with more than one kid) has told you this but a lot of times that second baby comes way faster than the first. I know you're scheduled for an induction but if you do go into labor, don't dilly dally with getting to that hospital! I know or know of two people who delivered babies at home with their husbands doing the catching, one that delivered in the evaluation center at the hospital, and one that delivered in the car, on an exit ramp....
  • WinoGelato
    WinoGelato Posts: 13,454 Member
    MrM27 wrote: »
    Kruggeri wrote: »
    I would go with caviar and vodka personally... :p

    You would.


    I like it.

    And a Talenti chaser...
  • Ninkyou
    Ninkyou Posts: 6,666 Member
    Kruggeri wrote: »
    TIL today. YMMV! I feel so much hipper now. Is that what the cool kids say? Hipper? Or should I say Hipsterer now? Ok I should just stop before I further betray my lack of forum slang/abbreviations...

    Your Mileage May Vary on that as well!
  • Ninkyou
    Ninkyou Posts: 6,666 Member
    Kruggeri wrote: »
    I am sure someone (your doctor, or another friend with more than one kid) has told you this but a lot of times that second baby comes way faster than the first. I know you're scheduled for an induction but if you do go into labor, don't dilly dally with getting to that hospital! I know or know of two people who delivered babies at home with their husbands doing the catching, one that delivered in the evaluation center at the hospital, and one that delivered in the car, on an exit ramp....

    I know, right? She is sitting waaaaaaaaaaay low. I'm afraid to even sneeze. I told my mom today I feel like they're not even going to need to give me Pitocin. They'll just break my water and I'll push her out in 2 pushes. She's THAT ready. On Monday I was 2cm dilated. My next appt is this Monday and I feel like my OB is going to check my cervix and say I'm already at 5 at to go straight to the maternity ward. LOL.
  • Ninkyou
    Ninkyou Posts: 6,666 Member
    Kruggeri wrote: »
    MrM27 wrote: »
    Kruggeri wrote: »
    I would go with caviar and vodka personally... :p

    You would.


    I like it.

    And a Talenti chaser...

    You could try to do a Talenti/Vodka float. That could be interesting.
  • doctorsookie
    doctorsookie Posts: 1,084 Member
    jello and pudding...that is about the only thing I can eat at a hospital. Wishing you all the luck!!!!
  • This content has been removed.
  • melimomTARDIS
    melimomTARDIS Posts: 1,941 Member
    meh, you probably wont want to eat anything. i have had 2 c sections, and I had tea, jello, and broth for a while, then got moved up to solids, but my stomach got queasy at the mention of meat/cheese/grease of any sort.

    I ended up eating bowls of oatmeal ordered from the kitchen, bowls of fruit,drinking tea/coffee/water, and on my last day, eating a salad.
  • Ninkyou
    Ninkyou Posts: 6,666 Member
    emily_stew wrote: »
    Sorry, I don't know you, but YAY! BABY! Best of luck...with the baby and with the hospital food!

    Thank you! :)

This discussion has been closed.