Hospital snacks

[Avoidingthetwitch]

Any suggestions for snacks to keep me going during a week in hospital? Have been advised to eat as many treats as I like to keep my strength up, but don’t think I will have access to a fridge or microwave, so snacks need to be ambient.

I eat very healthily and very little processed food so am dreading hospital food- as well as snacks any tips for making the meals more digestible would be welcome- so far I’ve made a jar of mixed seeds to have with my porridge but I’ve not got much further.

When I was in last, I had a box of cocktail sausages and another of cherry tomatoes on the go. You might not want the sausages, but the tomatoes don't need a fridge unless it's boiling. Flapjacks maybe?

Do you have someone who can bring in fruit,healthy snacks etc ?

I don’t know if you’re still wanting to eat unprocessed or not so I’m adding everything and you can pick/choose! plus stuff to help meals

m&s gut topper/aldi do porridge fruit and seed/nut toppers
dried fruit - strawberries, mango, pineapple cubes etc
mints/sweets
cordial for water/whatever drink you like
seasonings! Salt, pepper, everything bagel seasoning etc
sauces - hot sauce or lea and perrins
any spread you like - marmite, honey etc
shelf stable - biscuits (shortbread is high cal and not UPF), chocolate, brioche, meringues
pots of jelly/custard/fruit in juice
popcorn, pretzels, tortilla chips, corn/pea snacks

Whichever chocolate you like 😂 I’ve gone into hospital before with a healthy eating mindset and spent the whole time plotting to get my hands on an ungodly amount of chocolate. If you’re looking for non-UPF Montezuma has some good low-ingredient ones. If you’re healthier than me and will survive without it:

Naked bars are good, just fruits and nuts
Rice cakes?
Dried apple rings
M&S fruit and nut mix is miles better than any other I’ve found
Crisps? M&S have a non-UPF salt and olive oil one that is all over my social media right now so I’m sure they’re good 😂
Pre-packaged croissants (most are UPF though)

Sucky sugar free sweets. And mints.

I would take the following

• dark chocolate
• fruit and nut chocolate
• nuts and dried fruit
• granola bars
• crackers & peanut butter
• choc chip brioche
• fave condiments
• banana's
• biscuits
• Crisps/ popcorn/ other things found in that section of the supermarket
• cereal bars

Good luck op - hope it goes well!

Sweet stuff is fairly easy: good quality dark chocolate (the divine dessert bars are amazing, as are forest feast dark chocolate coasted cherries and salted almonds).
Dried fruit
Nature valley bars
Fruit / nut bars

i think savoury / less sugary is where I’d find things harder….

Porridge pots ( where you can just add water)
I hate to suggest this but the itsu noodle pots ( again, just hot water) &similar macaroni cheese style things might be good for savoury / emergencies
Apples - will last a good few days out of fridge
Bananas
Rice cakes - again, some good savoury options
Breadsticks / crackers (also good with hummus!)
Small jar of marmite (ok, I’d take a big one!) and a jar of peanut butter as those are both great with crackers etc
Mixed nuts

Definitely grapes - delicious and hydrating

And bottled water

malt loaf

Might be a bit random, but try looking at what longer distance "thru hikers" take when doing long distance walks on places like the Appalachian Trail. Yes they generally hit small towns or supply shops every few days so they're not going for weeks at a time with only what they can carry, but they can't refrigerate things and generally only "cook" in limited ways with boiling water. Some eat a lot of dehydrated camping meals and stuff like that, but you'd be surprised what is popular. The foil packets of flavoured tuna are a good protein source, nut butters and crackers, oatmeal/porridge, beef jerky kinds of products.

Grapes, soreen fruit malt bars, daily fruit pot brought in - strawberries, pineapple is v refreshing

Fresh fruit and fruit salad, and salads generally. If you have visitors, they can bring you in some every few days.

Also, will you be having any sort of surgery that impacts how easily you can chew or what you can digest? That’s something to consider.

I was recently in for 4 days for surgery on my head and neck. I definitely needed soft foods for my stay because I couldn’t fully open my mouth due to the swelling. I hadn’t actually anticipated that.

There is often a shop in the hospital too. Ours has a Smith’s, a Costa and an M&S! So you may be able to go on walkies and get something you fancy. I have been known to just take myself off for some proper food.

I was in hospital last year for ten days and my favourite snack was an occasional handful of chocolate chips from a big bag that my sister had brought me.

Food quality varies widely between trusts so cross your fingers you are in a good one! You eat v early 5pm ish so I’d suggest things to have as a supper. Peanut butter and oatcakes, cereal bars, biscuits. That sort of thing. I’d take some grapes, apples etc as you’ll end up craving fresh fruit!

Ooh definitely granola with berries, nuts, full fat Greek yoghurt and honey and cinnamon.

You'll probably be able to keep 1 or 2 things in the ward fridge if you're not able to get someone to bring something in for you.

I'd also get soreen malt loaf, Welsh cakes, fruit cake.

I think you need to specify what you would like and how often someone is coming to visit.

I was told in 1997 that I'd be a terrible Mum to my son if I couldn't even be bothered to get up and feed myself...

The vegetarian option - plate of mixed boiled veg.
My Mum was bringing in fruit, quiche, pizza, rice meals with veg, pasta meals with veg. I was very well fed.

I was 21 and told this midwife just to fuck off as she'd been awful (feeding baby for me, not helping me post c sec, sitting on bed with shoes on it whilst telling visitors to not sit on bed) I was in for 5 days. She made me wash naked in front of her.

You just think this is normal at 21. Best fuck off I ever gave, even though Mum was - Buffet 😱😱

Best fuck off I ever gave.

So yeah, eat what you want unless nil by mouth.

Fill your bedside cupboard up with your favourite non perishables.
Visitors can bring fruit, quiche, chilli and rice (I don't know what you're allowed to eat).

I know when I used to do Nans menus that I was salivating, looked lovely too.

You finishing all that Nan? Yes thank you 🤣

Too late to edit.

I meant specify on thread, not to the hospital.
Although that would be quite funny!

My son was in hospital for 308 days and the hospital food was very hit and miss but found a few things that either stayed consistently nice or made things a bit more interesting.

Foods on the menu my son always found to be delicious -

any of the soup starters with bread roll

any of the salads, his favourite was roast chicken

jacket potatoes with either cheese or tuna and salad

All of the desserts were always good, my son especially enjoyed the strawberry yogurts and of course, ice cream.

To make things more interesting as he was in for such a long time, I asked for different menu options and he really enjoyed the cultural menu and trying different curries.

As for snacks, we pretty much let him have whatever he fancied but he did need to gain weight after being so ill so we were laid back about it and then reined it in when he got home.

crackers
breadsticks
grapes
crisps
popcorn
mini sushi rolls
chocolate

Hospital nurse here. Most places dont mind if you ask for snacks between meals and can provide a few options.
I know in my hospital I could do you yoghurts, jelly, ice cream, sandwiches, toast, cereal, crisps, biscuits, fruit, crackers and cheese.
As long as you arent taking the p* and emptying our cupboards then we would happily provide between meal snacks.

Fruit platters

You can buy things like dried fruits, chocolate-covered fruits or nuts, biscuits, etc in very convenient single portion packs. Buy a large selection and put it in boxes at home. Put a couple of day's -worth in a large plastic tub that you keep in your hospital locker. Whenever anyone comes to visit from home they can refill your hospital tub.

A bag of granola clusters that you can pick at.

Jelly pots. Custard pots.

If you like spicy food, a small bottle of your favourite sauce (or sauces) will easily keep for a week or longer in your cupboard. Similarly a bottle of nice cordial. Get nice cordial for the sugar, rather than sweetener-loaded squash.

Other ambient things that you can shake or add to bland food:
Nori flakes
Zaatar
Soy sauce
Ketchup

Get some bag clips to close anything that doesn't come in a jar, and a couple of smaller plastic tubs to act as drawer organisers.

Also earplugs, a fan, and a sports cap drinking bottle (not one with a straw if you're driving sugary cordial).

Hope it's a gentle stay and you recover well.

Eww not malt loaf. I do love malt loaf - but not when I can't brush my teeth easily!

@Kirbert2

I hope your son has made a full recovery now. That sounds like a really tough, and a long time!