Pregnant & going into hospital for at least 5 week!! What healthy snacks and food do you recommend I take with me?

[Swifey]

Hospital food is so awful, I cook everything from scratch at home, and there is no way I will be able to eat the rubbish they serve up! I still have morning (all day) sickness, so am finding eating s bit of a trial anyway, and may have to leave the ward when they serve meals anyway!

Weeks not week!!

I normally eat really healithly and when I was in hospital the food was quite nice. Really hearty good meals like veggie moussaka, cottage pie, cauliflower cheese and lots of veg. You might be presently surprised!

Unfortunately I've been in before, and the food is dreadful, things like cottage pie with grey grisly mince!! Really gross, and sandwiches with cheap 'wafer' thin ham in, bleugh!! Breakfast will be edible I imagine though; cereal and toast!!

Any one out there with some inspiration please?

Will you have access to hospital shop? Family to bring stuff in?

Need more info but when I was in (not pregnancy related) and being vegan it was much harder but my DH brought me a flask of soup at night usually with a roll, I'd eat it while he was there and he'd take it home for next night. He left freshly cut up veg, fruit, fruit tubs, biscuits, crackers, crisps, nut bars and soy desserts. Each morning I'd get a fresh roll from the shop, and a boxed salad and fill that for lunch. They also sold hummus which I would eat with my crackers. I found the shop had better food but it was expensive.

You could buy two cool boxes, he brings in one filled for the day ahead then swaps your now empty one for a nice full one each night for the next day. More work for him but cheaper all round.

Have you time to plan ahead?

I am going in on Sunday, so a bit of time. I could take my toddlers cool bag, that's a good idea! The shop in the hospital is like a news agents, so just crisis and chocolate etc. there is a Costa too, but I don't imagine that sells healthy food! My mum is close, and a great cook, so maybe she could bring me in something too!

Don't count on the toast - it was brea and butter when I was in...

Bags of nuts, dried fruit, flapjacks if you can make some yourself and plenty of fresh fruit.

Cherry tomatoes last ages out of the fridge, apples, pears, bananas and satsumas, will you have access to a microwave as you could make scrambled eggs to have with your breakfast? Couscous is nice and easy only need boiling water?

I had a four week stay in hospital and it was really hard food wise.

I kept a well stocked fruit bowl, also nuts and seeds and dried fruits and cereal bars.

I second the flask of soup and stews brought in each evening - make sure the flask is heated up with hot water first and then the food will stay warm longer.

Fruit smoothies (if you have access to a communal fridge)

The instant porridge pots and add dried fruit, nuts, seeds and some honey.

Some of the new 'posh' ramen noodles and cous cous pots that just need hot water - again you can add seeds and some tobasco to liven up and some veg from the food trolley

Cool bag with hummus and carrot sticks, cherry tomatoes etc...veggies that can last a bit out of a very cold environment

If you can afford it the hospital canteen will have better quality food that you can buy