Off The Cuff

Oh That Wonderful? Hospital Food?

Posted by: From Arkansas in Health Topics, Not so fast food on Aug 06 2008

Welcome back!

Yes, I am once again going to talk about the hospital trip. Take heart. It won’t be long before I actually run out of things to say about that. Yes, I can run out. It was only 4 days. Let’s discuss hospital food. When my husband was in the same hospital some time ago, I saw him get all sorts of good food that I was not able to partake in since he was the patient and I was not. At the cafeteria, I was only able to have fried and deep fried foods plus salads that they weigh. Of course, that costs an arm, leg and all of what’s in your pocket.

This is a HOSPITAL that serves fried and deep fried foods. Is this healthy? Absolutely NOT! But it’s okay because it’s only the visitors and the patient’s family that are involved here and, oh by the way, the hospital staff. That is ridiculous. They are supposed to be promoting health so people do not show up at the………oh.

So, I get there. My husband eats their burgers that my Mom asked one time “IS that actually meat?” What I got was a dry as a bone pork chop I could not eat because it messes up my stomach and other assorted nasty green plant-like substances that had been boiled beyond most recognition. There was a piece of cornbread muffin. I did not eat. My husband tried since pork does not affect him in that way. That’s how I found out just how dry it was. Lunch. At this point in my stay, I was pretty sure I would not have to resort to diet pills since these people were going to starve me anyway. I do realize that I have a bit to lose so it wasn’t a horrible thing. But really. What would they do if it was some very small person who needed all the help they can get?

With high hopes that lunch was only a fluke after all and the fact that when husband was in here, he was served some pretty great looking food which he consumed as fast as possible (No, he did not offer me any of it or share it) and I got to go buy mine from the fried food hall of fame in the cafeteria, I looked forward to supper time. So, my supper comes and what do I see? A huge piece of chicken that still had the skin on. ACK!!! It was incredibly greasy and yet dry, if you can believe that. Outside…greasy. Inside, dry as dust. Then there was the broccoli, boiled almost beyond recognition. That looked familiar. The best thing on the plate was the cheese potatoes. However, they did not believe I needed TOO much of a good thing. It was a small spoon portion. The chicken was at least three times the potatoes.

I ask you. What does it take to get decent food in the hospital? Obviously, you must be male. And my husband asked for double portions and got them. I did not bother. Oh yes, there was this one other thing that was a sore point with me. When I was in the observation unit, I was not allowed to choose my meals at all. Going up to the Women’s section, I did expect to do that but was not allowed to do so until………the morning of the day I left. They did give me a menu to choose from. I did not see that food at all. I still do not see the point in using up the paper when it is highly likely that the person will not be there the next day.

On the other hand, we got home and had some really great food from our cupboards and fridge. That made me happier because I could choose what I wanted instead of someone arbitrarily choosing for me. I am so glad to be out of there. But I will likely talk about this one or two more times. I can hear the groans now. Uh huh.

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