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I liked the hospital food they had at dartmouth in manchester. didn't like being there, but there was a lot of food choices.

There's a big difference between the food served to a patient and the food available for visitors in any hospital. I would rather the medical setting concentrate on all things clinical and leave the visitor kitchen to Gordon Food Service (or any other purveyor). That being said, I've actually never had bad food in a hospital. Wasn't great, but then again, my expectations were very low.

The hospital food at University of Michigan in Ann Arbor is freakishly abundant, and entirely edible. The medical staff ain't so bad either.

I had a broccoli/rice pilaf when I had my fourth son in 1979. It was very, very good. The grains were separate, not clumpy or gluey and I swear it had fresh herbs. It didn't taste at all institutional. I should have asked about it. I've been trying to duplicate it ever since.

One of my sons was a hospital cook for a couple of years back in the early 90s in Springfield, IL. He made a couple of things from scratch--lasagna, for one--but I think the soup came frozen in plastic bags.

I swear, hospitalized on IV for 15days without food or drink, the first mush allowed to pass my lips was forever ingeniously grateful and wonderfully delicious to me!

When I was 8 years old I had to spend one night in the hospital because I had my tonsils out. The night before surgery I was served eggplant parm and it was so vile I got sick and was not able to eat eggplant after that for decades. I worked in a hospital in the 80's and they made really good food I was shocked one thing that really stood out was this tortellini salad that was to die I still think about that salad and just might have to go to see if they still serve it. lol

@betteirene reminded me of how good the food was after giving birth to my daughter, and again after my son. But labor is so much work, I wonder if anything would taste good.

I work in a hospital and honestly the cafeteria food can be quite tasty. It can be awful now and then as well. As an employee, I find the meals I eat at work to be a good value for the money. I was also a patient there twice over the last few months and found the food served to me as a patient to be vile. I suppose it was the bland/liquid diet I was put on to ease me back into eating after having surgery, but honestly, brown water, supposedly broth, didn't work for me.

I was in the hospital for a few days last year on a renal diet and i couldn't eat anything i was served. It was all the most bland disgusting crap i've ever had.

in 2007 i was in the hospital with pneumonia. the first night they brought me a soup and it was horrible...the next five or so days i merely ate the vegetables off the side of the plate. my last night there i ate the whole meal provided.....i think it was fish and something...but either it was good or i was so hungry that it tasted like a miracle to me.

i've never had many positive experiences with hospital food. i always seem to get some kind of pre-made junk.

@MadelynRodriguez - I was actually surprised/impressed with the vegetarian selection during our stay. However, I completely understand what you're saying. I lived a meat-free life for a long time and I was always stunned at how many people would say "yes, it's made with chicken stock. But not actual pieces of chicken. So you can't tell." Sigh.

The best meal I ever had while in the hospital was the piece of rib roast and homemade coconut cake that my MIL made and brought to me after the birth of my daughter:-)

That same daughter spent 45 days in Thomas Jefferson Hosp. in Philly for testing that led up to brain surgery and recovery. She had no dietary restrictions and her food was pretty good. The cafeteria for the visitors was just plain awesome. That was 11 years ago and thank God, I can't tell you what it is like today.

@veryculinary there is nothing more frightening than a sick child and I feel for your fear and concern. A three year old isn't as articulate about their pain. My daughter was 20 and you might have thought that I would have been more confident for her. Let's just hope that you don't have to spend any more time in hospital with her or for yourself.

I broke my femur when I was just a kid and ended up spending a few weeks in traction in the hospital. Though missing out on Halloween trick-or-treating was pretty devastating, the facts that they had TONS of television channels and I got to order every meal off a menu made it bearable.