To expect better food choices on a childrens ward?

[NoodleFace]

Chips, mash, beans, fish fingers, chicken nuggets, sausage and pasta with bolognaise or cheese sauce. AIBU To think this is a disgusting choice of food for a childrens ward?

We have been in hospital since Wednesday and this is the daily menu, occasionally there will be a choice of jacket spud (no fillings other than above) or sandwiches, beans subbed for peas.

Is it unreasonable to expect more variety, with potentially a different special dish each day? Maybe a casserole or baked dish in addition to the other rubbish food options?

It's a hospital not a hotel. Surprised there's not much veg though.

You've got to get calories in to sick kids, plain food with lots of calories, basically that is what it is based on.

It's the same for lunch and tea (or whatever you want to call the meals) there is only so much pasta and chips I can face for my DS! It's all the same bloody colour.

Getting a small portion from the adult menu isn't an option aparently.

Every time my son has been on children's ward I've been desperate for him to eat - anything!
The fact that he could have one of his favourite treat meals of fish fingers and chips etc. really helped him.
There was always fresh fruit on offer throughout the day and for most ch

... Children it's thankfully a shortish stay experience.

DS has just been in hospital and his choices were the same as the adult one but with one extra "children's" meal in there. So he had sausage and chips for one meal (well he actually ate a few chips) and tuna pasta for another. The tuna pasta came with a side salad too

yanbu
it is as if they rely on parents to do most of the care and to bring in food. poor sods where parents are not able to do it.

I think that it will be a menu that appeals to most sick children , plus friends and relatives will be supplying snacks/fruit etc.

Can you get a take out from a restaurant nearby. Yes, the choice sounds rubbish though if you can't.

Tbh food choices for adults are pretty grim too but I don't see why children can't have something from the adult menu in a smaller portion.

My DS is only 2, these aren't seen as a 'treat meal' I think they are more of a flavourless punishment. He doesn't eat fish fingers or chicken nuggets, I'm not 'that' person either he has had mcds a few times but only ever eaten the chips.

He loves all vegtables and fruit. We all like chips, but twice a day for a few days is enough to turn the biggest chip lover against them I think.

There is no excuse not to have some variety to the food on offer.

Hope you manage to get home soon

Sirzy is that with NHS? I'm in north manchester... Not sure if location makes much difference

Where I worked there was loads of choice on the menu but it was mainly all pre packed bought in stuff

Yes NHS. First time it has been that way, previously they have sent up the normal rubbish selection and the kids/parents go up to pick for them. But now you order it via the TV and you get a decent selection, can have a starter too if you want.

when my fil was in hospital las year the food was so vile that he couldn't eat. he lost so much weight it was scary (and that was with us bringing him food evey day).

We were in a Wiltshire hospital for a couple of weeks a few weeks ago. Ds ate from the adult menu as it was more his kind of food, and the food he did get was excellent. They made it in the restaurant/cafe downstairs and sent it up.

That said, there was nowhere near enough fresh fruit/salad/veg.

I took some fruit in for our room.

Dad was in UCH in London a month ago and the menu was amazing, he was gutted as he was liquids only for 36 hours, then nil by mouth then couldnt eat much after his surgery!

Our local hospital is utterly shite. When DS was in for day surgery for his squint he was really sobbing when he came round (family failing, I always cry too!) and the only think that calmed him was the offer of some lunch. The lunch box arrived and he said "Is that it?!" and he was 5. There were 2 quarters of a sandwich a teeny bag of quavers and a banana. This is standard lunch fare for any child on the ward, up to the age of 14. The nurses said that the always order twice the number of lunches per patient as there simply isnt enough as she bought through his second box.

YANBU. Yes short term stays often mean "eat anything, we dont care" but if the same menu is on offer to long stay children cancer patients then how the hell are they to fight their illness on one spoon of peas a day and a piece of fruit?

It's not great, but the point of getting calories in is a good one. If kids are really ill and only nibbling then you don't want them just nibbling lettuce.

When my kids have been in hospital I have brought in food, but I must admit that is usually chocolate as they are so miserable. missing fruit or veg for a few days is not a problem nutritionally.

Long-stay hospital is different though.

Sorry that is "one spoon of peas and a piece of fruit as their "five a day"?"

That sounds fab! Something to look forward to in future!

I need to take a long hard look at myself because I actually got a bit excited that was to be rolled out.

If children who are very poorly need calories would they not be given food via a tube?

I just spent a week on a postnatal ward and was shocked at how decent the food was. Fair enough it was all a bit nuked but essentially balanced and loads of choice. They would ask if you wanted fish, chicken, beef , lamb or vegetarian and then if you said fish they would ask: fish pie, steamed cod, poached salmon, fish and chips, prawn pasta? For each protein type there were about 5 or 6 options. I fail to see how they couldn't do the same for children.

Tbh I was more outraged by the fact you no longer get toast on the wards for health and safety reasons! What new mum wants bread and marmalade.