Everyone knows the food hospitals serve patients isn't the greatest. But what they feed employees and guests isn't much better.

I've recently been visiting a sick loved one at a local hospital reknowned for its top-notch care. Unfortunately, the care seems to stop at the cafeteria door.

My first night there, I went in search of a salad. Surely, I thought, a hospital would have a well-stocked salad bar or at least some nice pre-packaged options. Alas, that was not the case. The greens were nearly white, the cherry tomatoes sported black bruises and the carrots had long since lost their luster.

I moved on to the entrees dished out by the friendly staff. I could choose between the pasty-looking pizza breadsticks and the deep-fried codfish nuggets. The lone healthy option, baked chicken, looked as if it gave new meaning to the word dry.

After nixing a burger and the readilly accessible donuts and ice cream, I retreated to the deli for a turkey sandwich. I know, I know, too many carbs. But what's a hungry girl to do?

Today, I solved the problem by taking my own salad. But most folks won't go that far. And it seems to me to they shouldn't have to in a hospital.

If the mission is to promote good health and eating habits, let's start at the cafeteria floor and build from the ground up.


--Amanda Barrett