Hospital food – an opportunity waiting?
I probably should have written this a year ago when I had an intimate look at hospital food at a large Vancouver hospital. Ya gotta wonder whether this hospital at least, knows that there is any connection between food and health! From what I could tell, the food was largely highly processed, cooked to death, and they always served a sweet packaged dessert! What’s with that??? We KNOW that sugar suppresses immune systems. So why is sugar fed to people that are trying to get well? And margarine and creamer/milker were on the menu each day. No butter or cream here! Important to get your daily dose of trans fats and hydrogenated oils, after all. Much better choice than saturated fat, which our bodies need to get the vitamins and minerals into our cells. Oh yeah. Food cooked to death so I guess there are no vitamins left to transport. No worries then – no transportation needed. By offering up trans fats, cell messaging will be blocked instead. That will help people heal.
Okay. All sarcasm aside, what I am trying to say is that we should not be feeding sick people manufactured fats that the body mistakes for saturated fats, and we needn't be frightened about eating good quality saturated fats. Our body actually needs them to make our sex and stress hormones and vitamin D, transport vitamins and minerals into cells, create bile, stiffen our cell walls, and for cell communication among other things. On the good side, the hospital did offer eggs for breakfast. I enjoyed the actual menus and comments from Sarah Leavitt's blog, who stayed at the hospital in Nov. '06.
For a good laugh, take a look at these Heart Healthy Food Choices put out by my local health authority. Love the recommendation for low-fat hot dogs. Low-fat everything! If fat has been removed, it ain't a whole food. Is it logical to think that we can improve upon what nature intended? Have you noticed that since the influx of low-fat everything, we seem to be getting fatter? That's because if it is low fat, it is probably high in sugar and/or starch. Fat doesn't make most people fat (most metabolic types) – starchy carbs, particularly processed ones, and sugar do. And it seems the nutrition pundits don’t realize that so-called "non-hydrogenated margarine" either actually does have hydrogenated oils in it but at a level that is low enough that they can label it as trans-fat free, or it is another form of manufactured fat (inter-esterified fat) which is equally harmful. And notice all the processed food recommendations. Angel food cake? Ginger snap cookies? Low-fat yogurt? Pretzels? Boy, the food companies have the public health system wrapped around their little finger!!! Food companies want to sell you their food, so they strip out nutrients that will cause the food to spoil, and fill it with preservatives in order to lengthen shelf life. Therefore processed food should not be recommended for anyone, let alone heart patients, and it certainly should NOT be given to patients in hospitals.
So, I cooked up a storm and brought in food made with home-made bone broths, grass-fed meats, free-range chicken, organic vegetables etc. and what wasn’t eaten was stored in the fridge in the hospital. The next day when I went to get it, the containers were there, but the food was gone. Turns out homeless people know that to find good food, don’t look at the hospital trays, but look in the fridge! Seems the hospital has a security problem too.
Hospital food doesn't have to be this way. It can be nutritious, delicious and sustainable. It is starting to happen in Oregon, for example, where some hospitals are offering hotel-style room service with delicious, healthy foods on the menu, cooked to order. Less food is wasted because it is actually eaten, and surprisingly, they have not increased their food budget. Food profits from cafeterias have gone up, due to the more food being served. Imagine patients asking for recipes! Imagine calling your hospital and then swinging by to pick up a take-out order! London England is also doing much to put healthier food into hospitals. Hospitals can and should be taking the lead on nutritious, sustainable food, and I'm glad to see it beginning to happen.
Related Tips
Sugar – the disease generator
Saturated fat – the misunderstood nutrient
Processed food is taking over our supermarkets
Nutrient-dense foods
Another “healthy heart” guide that got it wrong
Vancouver General Hospital VGH Patient & Family Handbook
Sarah Leavitt’s blog Healing food at Vancouver General Hospital
Vancouver Coastal Health Experience of inpatient care Notice that “overall quality of food" was rated the lowest of everything.
Vancouver Coastal Health Healthy Heart Food Choices
British Columbia Conversation on Health Food Quality in Hospital
The Oregonian This is hospital food? March 2006
Hospital Food Project Getting more sustainable food into London’s hospitals. Can it be done? And is it worth it? October 2005
Hospital Food Project Sustainable Development Commission
Suite 101 Hospital Food Interview
Copyright 2007 Vreni Gurd
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Magnus Adam Lewis Mulliner said,
January 7, 2008 @ 3:43 am
Happy New Year Vreni,
That is so true. Last year I had a friend who had an emergency operation on his spine in Calgary General Hospital. I popped in to see him and saw exactly what you stated above. My way of supporting this man was to bring him prepared organic foods and some Probiotics. Absolutely frightening what they feed people and as you know, use microwaves to heat already dead foods!
Jamie Oliver has done much in the UK and probably abroad by focussing on children and school dinners. Maybe it’s about time Michael Moore or someone with a passion and interest to go into hospitals and see what ‘foods’ are being prepared!
Wishing you a super, smashing and enjoyable 2008:-)
With love
Magnus
Brandon Harshe said,
January 7, 2008 @ 3:19 pm
Great, great post. I’ve always wondered that, too. the way hospitals cook eggs, it’s almost like “would you like eggs with all your butter?”
Change of Shift: Vol.2, Number Fourteen » The NJO Blog said,
January 10, 2008 @ 1:40 am
[…] Vreni Gurd is not a nurse, but she presents a rather entertaining look at Hospital food – an Opportunity Waiting? posted at Wellness Tips. If I’m ever in the hospital, she can cook for me! […]
steph said,
January 11, 2008 @ 4:04 am
Well-voiced!
You’re so right. There’s a ridiculous amount of food binned in hospital simply because it’s inedible by the time it reaches the patient. And white sliced bread with everything – urgh!
All the food is so over-cooked and disgusting. Why don’t they have the option of a range of crunchy salads with freshly baked brown bread and fresh fruit salad/organic yoghurt to follow?
It is definitely an opportunity waiting for someone to change the system.
The Skinny on January » Carnival of Holistic Nutrition- January 15th, 2008 Edition said,
January 15, 2008 @ 8:04 am
[…] Vreni Gurd presents wellness tips » Hospital food – an opportunity waiting? posted at wellness tips, saying, "Feeding sick people overly cooked, poor quality food does not help them recover. Hospitals are missing a huge opportunity." […]
nicole said,
February 8, 2008 @ 11:52 pm
what a great blog topic! my mother just returned from a hospital in san diego where she was there recovering from an intestinal surgery. i flew from portland to be with her while she was an inpatient. when she could eat soft foods, the first food they brought her was bright green jell-O!! i couldn’t believe it! after four days of green jell-O, they brought out disgusting, processed juices and other packaged food. on day 12 in the hospital, after i complained and demanded that their dietician go speak with my mother, they finally asked her what SHE wanted, and by then, she was craving fresh fruit and vegetables, of which she had received NONE!! to read about this in more detail, visit my blog at: myyearwithout.blogspot.com where i am attempting to go this year without any white refined sugar in my diet.
anyway, i appreciate your hospital post and have been motivated lately to investigate how hospitals get away with serving unhealthy food to the patients they want to heal…
Judy Ritsema said,
March 9, 2008 @ 3:40 pm
Hi Venri
I really am intrigued and extremely interested in the causes of obesity. Dr. Mark Hyman, author of UltraMetabolism, does an excellent work in regards to modalities and natural alternatives to re-invent your metabolism, if you will. It’s done with stress management, natural phytonutrient dense foods, proper types of fats, and movement. Some genetic testing, along with additional supplements, etc., when and if required.
I wrote an article on obesity on my blog very recently. I do agree, that what kind of calories we consume has a huge impact on health and longevity, as well as obesity. I am fascinated by this subject, and will continue to watch for your highly informative and extremely well written articles. I am a Health Coach and I believe obesity is an epidemic. How can we instill these principles to the general public? It is my opinion, that is the next step.
Thanks for your excellent contributions in the health and wellness arena.
Judy Ritsema
Vreni said,
March 9, 2008 @ 4:46 pm
Hi Judy,
Dr. Mark Hyman practices functional medicine, which actually works as opposed to allopathic medicine, which most physicians practice. Hopefully in time more doctors will make the switch and people will truly get the help they need. Hormone testing is often helpful in determining where the breakdowns in the metabolic pathways are occurring, and then one can treat the actual problem. Obesity is all about hormone imbalance, mostly insulin, but cortisol and estrogen can play big roles as well.
To see the other comments made on the topic of obesity, go to the post on obesity.
http://blog.wellnesstips.ca/blog/index.php/?p=167
Thanks for commenting!
Vreni
glenn vaughn said,
February 28, 2009 @ 9:11 am
Dad in the hospital for a rection to Levaquin. Given to him without a diagnosis for a lung infection. Has had terrible effects on him. Turns out problem was not pneumonia but mucus in one lung. Watched with dismay as they brought him lunch: cookie (probably trans fat laden with lots of sugar), Sprite (afraid to look up ingredients but probably has aspartame and other junk, butter substitute (with partially hydrogenated oil), pork chop, something that looked like yams. These people created this illness with Levaquin and are trying to build him back up with this junk food! Help. These people know nothing about nutrition.
Vreni said,
February 28, 2009 @ 1:00 pm
Hi Glenn,
Feel for you. I find it terribly frustrating … I hope your Dad recovers okay. Can you bring food in for him to eat?
All my best.
sandrar said,
September 10, 2009 @ 8:46 am
Hi! I was surfing and found your blog post… nice! I love your blog. 🙂 Cheers! Sandra. R.