Hospitals feed us to heal. The food was never meant to please you like a fine dining experience but it wouldn’t be right to never question why the same food that we eat at home ends up tasting bad as a hospital meal. Neither the chef nor you are at fault. The truth is our senses are not working to their full potential.
- Taste buds lose their function
When we take medicine, we can feel the after taste which in most cases is either described as metallic or bitter. Chemotherapeutic drugs, painkillers, antibiotics are known to change taste receptors.
- Your nose fails you.
Most of what we perceive as taste is by smell first. Medicines reduce the ability of smell receptors. So, the food loses its essence way before it reaches our tongue.
- Stress affects your mood to eat.
You are aware of how stress can alter your behaviour. You could enjoy something dearly but with stress you decide to distance yourself from it. It works same with food. Stress causes cortisol to rise which makes you lose your appetite.
- Meals are tailored.
Food is our medicine. Its role is as important as the procedure itself. You all must have noticed when the dish tastes bland, the first thing we ask for is salt. This is because its addition automatically enhances the flavour of all other spices. Hospital has to keep in mind different needs of different sets of patients such as a salt restricted diet for heart patients, a carbohydrate control meal for diabetics, modifying the consistency of food for patients with swallowing difficulties.
So, next time you blame hospital chefs for their bad cooking skills which is seriously not the problem. They do not need to up their game. We should keep in mind how our illness is responsible for this malfunction.
How has your experience been with hospital food as a patient or visitor ?
MBH/PS