Hospital Fast Food

Diet Blog said:
I've also seen diabetics given piles of white-bread sandwiches with lashings of sweet jam (jelly) for lunch, and a sweet dessert after carb-filled dinner.[...]

This certainly does not surprise me. Doctors tend to know very little about nutrition. Actually, this reminds me: last night I was at Borders (the lady of the house needed to buy a present for someone), and I saw a diabetic cookbook amidst a bunch of low-carb books. Interested by what would be inside, I opened it up and peaked through it. In the beginning though, there was the grain-based food pyramid and some text to the effect of "Everyone has the same nutritional needs, diabetic or not." I flipped through some recipes, and saw white flour and white sugar being used. I was so angry that I actually started to cuss out loud.

It's true the food's terrible!! Food in schools ain't too good neither! :-)
PS Ryan, since I am the tireless defender of doctors, I would like to add that most hospitals are not run by the doctors.

Dr.J said:
PS Ryan, since I am the tireless defender of doctors, I would like to add that most hospitals are not run by the doctors. [...]

True. But, in my hometown's hospital, a doctor would evaluate your situation when you came in and put you on one of a number of diets. For people who just had a heart attack or people who had problems digesting fat, there was a low-fat diet. I believe there were also diets for diabetics and epileptics. Perhaps this is the exception and not the rule though. I was in there once and they put me on the general diet, meaning non-restricted. That food was absolutely fantastic. I almost didn't want to leave.

Do they need any new doctors there?? :-)

I have yet to see good hospital food. The few times my husband has had to be in the hospital, they always put him on 1,200 calories a day of mostly carb because he is a diabetic. He starves on that, since he eats around 2,700 usually. I find myself sneaking grilled chicken and other protein that so he won't go crazy.

I always find they don't give you enough food, overall, and it is all pretty gross-looking stuff.

innocuous \ih-NOK-yoo-uhs\, adjective:
1. Harmless; producing no ill effect.
2. Not likely to offend or provoke; as, "an innocuous remark."

Did you really mean that? :-)

Jan: I was raised in a farm town of about 5,000 people. Both the food at our schools and hospital were done by women who took great pride in what they did. They did it as close to by-hand as possible given the large volume. My dad was actually there when the doctor in charge of me put me on the general diet and his remark was "oh boy, you're going to like it here!". I'm also a particularly large eater, especially when I was 14, but I didn't need any extra food at all. It is possible though that I got special treatment. The hospital staff knew who I was. I did get a particularly nice room :-). But, in short, the food was fantastic, at least for taste.

I actually enjoyed hospital food when I was in for two days after the birth of my daughter. The hospital did have a very high-quality kitchen, a nutritionist on staff, and options (such as "no butter on my toast" or skim vs. 2% milk) to improve the healthiness of each meal.

But all that aside, I think the main reason was I knew I would eventually have to go home and cook for myself!

Prufrax said:
Did you really mean that? :-)[...]

Another problem is people sneaking in junk food.

Fast food is most likely added to make money. I'd rather the hosptiles choose healthyer fast food. Some places are going away from transfats.

A lot of doctors are highly educated in nutrition but knowing what do and fowling it are two different things. Doctors are just bright humans with the same food weaknesses as anybody else.

Ryan
Actually the allowing limited amounts of sugar and white flour is something new in diabetic nutrion. I am not an expert but I think it’s some kind of carb counting which diabetics can eat the same almount of carbs with limited amounts of sugar and white flour.
The problems was too many diabetics restricted and binged. Keeping sugar levels level are important.

iportion: I'm saying nothing about whether they follow good nutrition themselves; I don't care about that. I'm talking about whether they know anything about it in the first place. Most of the doctors I've talked with know very little about nutrition, except the guidelines that come from the Ivory Tower otherwise known as the AHA. Most of them spout pretty much the same Diet Dictocrat stuff. Drugs are where their specialty is. Not that they can't learn about nutrition, but I've found it to be fairly rare.

Diabetics shouldn't be around white flour and sugar. None of us should, but diabetics should be especially diligent. They should be eating small amounts of high quality carbs like whole grains, beans, and sweet potatoes/yams. As a bodybuilder, I've found only about 0.6 to 0.75 grams of carbs per pound of lean mass seems to be necessary, and only if the training is especially intense. 0.4 grams works for me. Other sports require different amounts of carbs though.

During my recent stay in hospital, I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the food. The odd thing though, was the sugar and white-flour laden morning and afternoon snacks. Twice a day, I'd be offered a choice of muffin, cake, danish pastry or sweet biscuits (cookies) to accompany my cup of tea. Once, the staff plonked down a slice of cake, unrequested, on my tray table. A nurse was there administering powerful painkillers and anti-nausea medication. She nodded at the cake, saying, "You eat that - you don't want to take these drugs on an empty stomach."

My theory is that hospitals offer patients the kind of food they're used to eating. I'd far rather have my usual mid-afternoon snack of fresh fruit and yoghurt. But I guess I'd be the only one who wanted to eat it.

It seems like just about everything in America is contradicting these days.

I gotta agree with Ryan. Even if you believe that a diet that is 60% carb is better for a diabetic, these carbs should not be white flour and sugar, it should be stuff that keeps their blood sugar stable.

Well, we pretty much can agree that hospital food is junk.

A few years ago I served on our local hospital's foundation board, and we held dinner meetings once a month at the hospital. That was my 1st and only (knock on wood) experience eating hospital food. I have to admit that it wasn't very impressive. It really is mystery meat and the potatoes were instant, but it was my introduction to lima beans - and they're healthy, right?!

My mom works at a hospital. The food is actually really good. Great selections (healthy and fattening). I worked there one summer and really enjoyed it...pretty reasonable too.

In my hometown they placed a McDonalds in a rundown hospital about 10 years ago. I never did understand why it was there.

I work at a hospital in the psychology department, and I'm appalled at what I see my inpatients eating. I have taken a glance at the menu options and I wonder what the heck I would eat if I were hospitalized there! There's a ton of name brand prepared foods, which I have tried to eliminate from my diet, and like others have commented, there are tons of options for baked goods full of hydrogenated oils, but for fresh fruit there are only two choices. It's a sad state of affairs in terms of patient care. I often see patients with their own food, and while sadly, there is sometimes junk food, I have actually seen people with their own boxes of Kashi cereal or bowl of fruit.

Then, the options for staff are equally appalling-Tim Horton's (a famous coffee and donut joint in Canada) always has the longest line, followed by the pizza! I have yet to eat from the cafeteria-I always take my lunch to avoid these unhealthy "choices".

From my understanding, the hospital raises funds by having these name brand restaurants in the hospital. I think its pretty pathetic that we have to resort to having junk food to have enough money to properly fund health care. (Which, really, in the long run, just increases the need for health care). Bottom line, I think it speaks to our priorities as a society.

I spoke to the CEO of a large private hospital in my city. (Im associated with the University Hospital) He said their food comes from the Marriot system, the same people who do the hotel chain. He also said that while 'food' is the number one complaint at hospitals, it has no relationship to whether or not people are satisfied with their hospital stay!! I guess that's why we call them hospitals and not resturants!
Psychsarah, does your hospital allow the psych. patients to smoke? Many do, and I've always been very bothered by that one!!
"I think it speaks to our priorities as a society"
THAT is where changes need to happen!!!

Doctors are not nutritionists. That said, hospitals generally have junk food outlets on site to pay the bills - it's purely a fundraising exercise, in the same way that junk food vending happens at schools, and scouting groups sell cookies and soft drink.

Also, the general population still just doesn't *get* the link between food and health. Cancer, diabetes and heart disease are still seen as a matter of 'bad luck' or 'genetics' (obviously everyone's genetic susceptibilities are changing really quickly as is evidenced by the spiralling rates of all three!) - and this is supported by the medical fraternity, who is none the wiser on the subject, and whose own dietary habits are usually equally appalling.

We live in a culture where feeding toddlers chicken nuggets, juice and pizza is seen as acceptable behaviour, and those who feed their kids a whole foods, organic vegan diet (such as my husband and me) are subject to close scrutiny and considered 'weird'. Then our son's (and our own) excellent health and leanness is attributed to 'just good luck'!

*sigh* indeed!

Leanne: I might consider you weird, but only for the vegan part. Regardless, I agree with your general point. Most doctors are ignorant about the importance of nutrition. Some will even deny it. I was also an incredibly healthy child, seemingly impervious to disease or injury. No broken bones ever or even bruises, despite some very profound accidents. Being raised in a farmtown, bad things happen with heavy equipment. I just sprained an ankle in July, and it was fine in 3 hours. What do I eat? Mostly meat, milk, and eggs.

This is an example of why we need the government to take action. Look, New York City is banning trans fats and some people opposed the ban because they think that "it's the consumer's responaibility". Well, We, as consumers, already know that trans fats are bad for you and want them removed. The trans fats ban isn't a wake up call for the consumers, it's a wake up call for the industry. I have also heard that Washington DC, Boston, Seattle, San Francisco, Chicago, and Los Angeles are following the ban-the-trans-fat suit.

So I support the trans-fat ban in New York City? Absolutely. And I think that they need to do something to these unhealthy foods in hospitals. Serving french fries and fried chicken in hospitals disgusts me. Trans fats may be bad on the streets, but trans fats in hospitals? Disgusting. I hope that this will wake up the board of health and make them ban the fast foods outlets in hospitals.

Dr. J.,

Where I live, there is no smoking inside in public places, including hospitals. Hence, patients are not allowed to smoke inside the hospital, but should they be well enough to leave their rooms and go outside, nothing is stopping them. It makes me sad and angry when I see patients sitting in wheelchairs with IV poles attached, shivering outside smoking!

In reponse to your CEO's comment about patient satisfaction, he should be aware that satisfaction surveys are notoriously poor measures! Just my two cents...

Sarah, your two-cents makes more sense than most!
My CEO friend is a decent man. He even served in the Peace Core prior to his current career. It's a lot easier to criticise someone then face the challenges they do while trying to do a good job in a 'bad' world.
By the way...He did say they had GREAT Fried Chicken at his hospital...HaHa!!(I'm pretty much Vegan, so I'll just have to 'imagine' how good it is!)

I've been fortunate enough to have never been in a hospital myself, but when I've visited relatives there, I do notice that the food choices are often less than ideal. Of course, part of it does depend on the hospital and the dieticians that are there. Some are better than others, obviously.

I agree that most health officials are still not very aware of the link between food and health. I eat a diet very high in antioxidants because of all the aerobic activity I engage in. I have not been sick at all in 5 years which is when I changed my diet. I eat few processed foods and lots of fruits, veggies, lean meat, whole grains, eggs, and the occasional dark chocolate.

Ryan--just curious, do you eat a lot of antioxidants in your diet too? I know that you eat a very animal-protein rich diet, which would account for your rapid healing, but you must eat veggies and stuff too, right?

Spectra: Of course. I mainly get them from leafy green vegetables. It's not that vegetables/antioxidants aren't important, just that animal fat and protein come first. I think the rapid healing comes from more than the protein. Burn victims tend to be put on high-fat diets. It's a good way to build a lot of tissue very quickly. I have heard of people living a long life on just meat though.

McDonald’s would rather sink their resources into play gyms rather than applying it to finding ways to improve the nutrient value of their “gold standard” product formulations. What does that tell you? Their hugely successful gold standards aren’t going to change for the healthier without a major PR war. But the truth is: they can, and simply, without impacting taste.

There are safe and natural fat replacers (such as those made from grain fiber) (www.ztrim.com ) that can assure a reduction in the saturated and trans fat oils in all those "gold standard" brands. They can be applied across the full range of McDonald’s menu items and not one McD's customer will detect detraction in taste. In fact, the fries can even be coated with those same natural ingredients so that they do not absorb so much oil - I've tasted such fries -they absorbed 20% less fat in the frying process; they’re crisper on the outside and actually taste like a potato on the inside. Maybe McD’s should focus more resources on their R&D and their core business (their food and making it healthier) rather than wasting it on PR gimmicks like building play gyms at their sites. The question the whole country is asking McDonald's right now (after saying “gee thanks for the gyms”): if you can make the same food taste the same, but prepare it in such a way that it is healthier or, at least, not as bad for you... why wouldn't you do it?

Bob said:
if you can make the same food taste the same, but prepare it in such a way that it is healthier or, at least, not as bad for you... why wouldn't you do it? [...]

Because some of us disagree that taking out the fat is healthier, unless we're talking about trans fat. I like my fat; it keeps me strong. You and your contorted food substitute can stuff it.

REAL fat is indeed important...you can't replace all fats with "fake fat" substitutes. I tend to agree with Ryan here...fat is important for formation of myelin, various hormones, and other things. It's a vital organ as well. I eat plenty of natural fats and if I don't want the fat from say, french fries, guess what?? I just don't eat the french fries.

PS..Ryan: I tend to get most of my fat from nuts, eggs, and lean meats as opposed to full-fat beef and dairy fat.

I don't eat much fat (after I had my gallbladder removed, it pretty much grosses me out) but I don't want a carb-based fat substitute either. I'll bake my fries or just eat a boiled potato rather than eat a potato fried in more carb.

It's now wander why governments need to take action. Look. This picture is like a vending machine selling marijuana packs in a police station.

I just can't imagine trans fats right smack inside a hospital building.

Look, they can sell their own foods (like fruits, vegtables, whole grains, meats and nuts, and milk, and even some dark chocolates, instead of fried crap like McDonald's is serving. They may even get in healthier fast food restaurants like Subway with healthy choices.

My sister had her gall bladder removed last year, and mine started hurting while I was at A & W a couple of weeks ago. I am now not only psychologically ready to change my eating habits, but physically motivated too! From now on it's lean meat, raw oil, lots of fruit and veggies and whole grains (I'm not quite sure what to eat for whole grains as I want to avoid bread, crackers and pasta... does that just leave cereal?).

Lonnie, apart from beans and other legumes, you still have brown rice, quinoa, cracked wheat, oats, and a bunch of other options like that.

It is certainly a sad state of affairs when hospitals begin to serve the very food that is making people sick. Quite a coincidence....

Jan said:
Lonnie, apart from beans and other legumes, you still have brown rice, quinoa, cracked wheat, oats, and a bunch of other options like that.[...]

Thanks Jan... I had wild rice for supper tonight. It was good and my gall bladder hasn't hurt all day!

I love wild rice. Delicious.

I have been cooking with Z-trim for a few weeks now. It works and its easy. It lowers calories by replacing ortions of the oils, butter, and other fats. It also adds fiber to foods, because it basically is corn fiber made into a gel that works like fat in most cooking. They say it is undetectable, and that’s true. My cooking tastes like it always did. I’ve lost some weight, slowly. It’s a sensible approach and its natural. I eat what I want; it tastes as good as it always did, and I’m finally “right-sizing” my body. A total win-win. that mean you can us it to and the big guys like Mc'd

yikes.
i'd rather eat the cardboard hospital food.
isn't it counterataacking the hospital environment?
trying to get in shape, then dropping by the uber convenient Mickey D's in the hospital.

how come they allowed fastfood in a hospitals??? isnt it that the hospital staff must watch the food that their patient eat...why will they make the patient crave on that stuff...will they tolerate it so that their hospital will earn more...

Its weird, I maintain a very healthy and organic diet but I LOVE hospital, and airplane food. Maybe its because I have an excuse to eat really unhealthy crap because I'm "forced" to.