Hospital Food: Soy + Sugar = Ugh!

[mizski]

I was just reading another post about having no choice in eating off plan meals and it made me think of my hospital experience this week.

During my pre-op appointment I made it very clear that I had diet restrictions. I did not want any grief by mentioning Atkins so I said that I could not eat any starches or sugars, just proteins and vegetables. "You mean like a diabetic diet?" they asked. I figured this was as close as I was going to get to acceptable. I figured I would manage for two days.

I was wrong. My post op meal was crackers and regular ginger ale. I mentioned I could not have any starches or sugars. I eventually got water...and some shortbread cookies.

Later my liquid diet meal arrived: a regular Popsicle and regular jello. Again I explained that I could not eat that and was supposed to have a diabetic menu. Well after the popsicle became a puddle in paper and the jello just sat there, the nurse brought me in a cup of broth (bullion) and a cup of tea.

The next day with solid food was a little better, but not much. I mean, what part of a diabetic menu includes white toast and jelly for breakfast??? I ate the scrambled eggs. Lunch and dinner, I didn't eat the starchy and sugary things but noticed the meat and chicken stuff tasted weird. It was mostly soy. Ugh!!!

I was happy to go home and get back to my real food. It's taken me days to feel right again and I'm not talking about the surgery. I have another operation in a few months and I don't really know what to do about the hospital food situation. It is a very good hospital and I'm so very disappointed that they didn't (can't?) accommodate special dietary needs better. I will contact the hospital and ask about their patient menus. It really stinks though...I can't bring my own food with me into surgery, so what else can I do?

[JulieB]

That stinks. You would think that a hospital could accomodate a diabetic diet. I would definitely call ahead & discuss this with them for next time.

Have you considered writing a letter to the hospital administration? A well written letter often gets answers/results.

I don't know about post-op wards, but on some wards here visitors can bring in food...would that be an option? I know I've brought in McDonalds on request for friends who have recently given birth, for example I'm sure Mr. Ski would be happy to bring something appropriate in for you.

I hope you are recovering well from your surgery and your dietary misadventure, best wishes,

[not2late]

Originally Posted by mizski

I mean, what part of a diabetic menu includes white toast and jelly for breakfast???

An American Diabetes Association Diet.

Seriously, when I worked in the hospital, the diabetics were all put on an ADA Diet. Their breakfasts all included white toast with margarine or jam, or an unsweetened cereal, or stewed prunes or orange/apple juice. Lunch would have a piece of bread (white sandwich bread), juice, and a fruit cup (canned fruit cocktail) or jello. Dinner would be the same as lunch. And about an hour after these meals, when these patients would have their blood sugars checked, the nurses would have to call the residents who would grab all the charts and write a bunch of orders to give Insulin at 4 units or whatever and recheck the blood sugars again. So your hospital's "diabetic" menu doesn't surprize me at all.

THe ADA for a number of years starting in the 1980s did not recommend Diabetics to cut down or cut out sugar consumption. In fact, they were more concerned about fat intake than carbohydrate intake.

Now they are trending towards limiting carbohydrate intake AND fat intake.

[not2late]

Here's a nice little article about the 1800 ADA Diet (the one you were most likely on.)

The Death of the ?1800-Calorie ADA Diet? ? Clinical Diabetes

[phil h]

I have worked in hospitals for past 35 years plus. Horrible menu items even when not dieting.Pack your food or have family bring it in. Since I began dieting, cafeteria is off limits.Same food as patients there.Lts of starches and sugars.Keeps the food cheap.

[ziggy]

the only word for that hospital is evil

do they want people to stay sick so they make more money off them?


this is one of the reasons i have no faith in the health care system or people who are so called licensed health care professionals

[not2late]

The main problem with hospitals is the bureaucracy. At the children's hospital I worked in, the doctors there tried to get rid of the junk food on the menues. Yes, the 5-9 year old regular diet menu included things like french fries and pizza. The problem was that for them to change the menu, it had to go through a bunch of hospital committees: the nutrition committee, the purchasing department, etc. Alot of red tape just to replace french fries with something like an apple. And usually the proposal would die somewhere in one of the committees or it would be "pushed aside" due to a more pressing matter, like changing the hospital's logo to represent the new millenium.

There is a local hospital in my area that got rid of the 1800 cal ADA diet and replaced it with a controlled carbohydrate diet. That diet is based on the number of total carbs for the day. But the problem (according to what my bosses here tell me) is that families and patients sneak in high carb foods to snack on while in hospital. So that diet change is only helpful for the people who truly want to be helped.

[msanjelpie]

I guess what we learned is don't order the diabetic diet from a hospital

Lots of hospitals let you place an order for the exact foods that you want to eat each meal... I stick with jello, eggs, tea, meat, etc... I don't stress if I have to eat a piece of toast... I just wanna get well and get home... Atkins is waiting for me when I get there...

[sporty]

I had surgery last week and woke up to the nurse feeding me pudding after I told her I DID NOT want any starches or sugar items. I was so out of it that I didnt figure it out until half of it was down and immediately told her no more. I was in recovery room so hubby was not there to stop them trying to get food in me so that I could take pain pills by mouth.

They really do not care what our wishes are as long as it is easy on them.... at least that is what I believe.

[OzLover]

I would definately be calling someone & complaining. Hopefully you'll be able to come up with a plan for your next surgery. Good luck!