Why, why, why can’t I go to the hospital cafeteria and get something nutritious??? Everytime I go, the milk is close to expiry date and the only cheese they have is gouda! Gouda, are you kidding me?! After lunch is over, (1:00 pm!!!) the other choices are pastries full of fat, sugar, carbs or salt. And instead of having 3 or 4 fridges full of ENERGY drinks (which should NEVER be sold in a hospital) how about loading those fridges up with nutritious snacks? Come on already.
—Still hungry
This article appears in Aug 27 – Sep 2, 2009.
I’d guess the hospital probably gets funding from corporations to stock their products. That’s just a guess though, not based on any facts at all.
Why they only have gouda cheese though, I have no idea.
LOL @ the gouda tag…..
Nothing like some nice smoked gouda cheese & apple slices…mmm mouths watering just thinking about it.
Suck it up, get with the zeitgeist.
Hey! Don’t hate on Gouda!
Which hospital are you going to that they have Gouda?
I agree though that we need better choices at the cafeteria. I think there should be a sandwich chain (quiznos or subway or something), a chinese/japanese food place, and a smoothie/juice bar at the very least. They would be open far later than food is generally served here, and the hospital could just buy the franchises so they wouldn’t be losing money.
Agreed PAS. A lot of hospitals buy franchises. It’s also good for the Citadel High students who hate their own cafeteria too.
A recent CBC article states that the Capital District Health Authority hospitals (that’s those ones in HRM) will soon be getting rid of their fattening foods:
http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2009/08/28/…
The Infirmary had a pretty tasty (although overpriced) sandwich stand by the 4th floor Tim’s for awhile.
It has since closed, which is unfortunate for those of us who work at the Infirmary… It was only open for a few months, but their sammies were quite good.
And yes, the HI’s main cheese slice is Gouda. It is not a nice smoked gouda with apple slices. More of a rubbery, ultra-cheap Kraft “gouda”…..
It’s all gouda *ducks*
You’d see a better selection at the HI if there were any outside food places within a 5 minute walk.
Which hospital is this? I work at the VG and they just recently (maybe two days ago?) put a new ‘healthy eating’ plan into action.
I disagree about the hospital not losing money by buying the franchise rights. Those Tim Hortons in Capital Health buildings are staffed by well-paid hospital employees, I don’t believe the hospital is allowed to bring in an outside operator when it comes to food services as per the various collective agreements and outsourcing worries. I’m willing to bet the only profitable or break even situation in CH’s food service in the Tim Horton arrangement just because of people needing their coffee.
Not that I agree with minimum wage positions but a private operator who pays rent and a percentage on sales to Capital Health would likely give better service and better prices compared to some of the very, very slow servers making the union bucks. Pay the same rate as the union staff but make sure your non-union employees have a faster turnaround of orders and that will equal more cash in everyones pockets + happier customers.
considering that a lot of folks go to hospital to die it’s only fair that the cafeteria tries to speed up the process on their visiting family members…..
make mine a cruller and a large double double hold the fomaldahide (spelling is fucked on that word)
I see a few specialists at the VG on a regular basis and whenever I’ve gone to the cafeteria there my options have included: a $4 bowl of old ass soup, a piece of cold pizza at regular price, or a $5 “salad”….or a donut.
It’s DEPRESSING.
They are trying to move towards a healthier menu, but really it means that instead of having poutine on the menu, they take it off, but still have all the ingredients on hand. So you have to ask for fries, with cheese and gravy, which then ends up costing you like $8 for everything seperately. Eight rolls of sushi costs $7, a salad $6, and there is certainly no discount for employees.
PDG it’s so true. If you want to go somewhere for lunch, you have to walk at least 15 minutes to get anywhere, so if you only get 30 mins for lunch, you really don’t have time. If they put in a food court in the basement (they have the space because stores recently moved to burnside) you’d get employees from all buildings coming here for breakfast lunch and supper. Stay open late enough for night crew, and they’d be raking in the dough. Now we just end up getting things delieverd for like $5 a pop.
Stuff that clogs your arteries like a Twinkie’s cream-filling should be banned from all hospitals. Besides, it’ll keep those pimply-faced high school fucks out if you threaten them with carrot sticks and mango juice.
Pack your lunch, OP. Then you can have whatever your want without the bitching.
oh come on hospital cafeteria food isn’t that bad I mean what’s not to love about ham soaking in it’s own sweat? a side of instant potatoes and you got yourself a meal!
So I met with Hub-Unit at the hospital for lunch at the cafeteria – he was having a heart dye test done – so I grab a tuna wrap and sit down. It was pretty good although $5.00 is pretty hefty for a very small wrap. Guess what my favourite pump-thumper and his electrode suction cups sits down with? A BACON FUCKING CHEESEBURGER!!!!! AAAARRRRGGGGHHHHHH!!!! What is it about diabetic, high cholestrol men that screams GIMME A BACON CHEEEEEZZZZEBURGER!?!
The gouda tastes like a rubber boot. I can’t even talk about the soup, it’s so disgusting. The bagels are the size of dinner plates, REAL healthy. I wouldn’t feed this stuff to my dog.
I work in the cafeteria at Halifax hospitals on occasion. People complain all the time about the prices and the selection. Mostly the employees. Stop it! Bring your own food from your own home. You will save money and time on your break by not having to stand in the lineups at lunch time. I feel sorry for the families of patients who are long term residents. There is not a good enough selection after lunch and the cafeteria closes at 7pm. You can get shitty backed goods till 1 am at Timmy’s. All in all the cafeteria is shitty and eat somewhere ells if you can!
This topic is closely tied to one that’s near and dear to my heart – meal trays brought to patients’ rooms. Here’s some logic for you: bring a tray loaded with carbs and sugars to a patients’ room and wonder why their blood sugars are soaring. But I digress.
I bring my own lunches when I work at either hospital. Where’s my hero cookie?
TTFN, just tell your husband to throw in an extra cholesterol pill or two….and I mean, if he took the bun off, it’s all protein — won’t up his blood sugar levels, really 😛
Was the tuna white or light? For five bucks it’d better be white fucking tuna.
Last time I was at the hospital I hadn’t eaten all day (had to fast) and it was lunch and the only thing that wasn’t going to require taking a second mortgage out on my ass (the gov’t has the first PK ass-mortgage) was a biscuit at tim’s. 250 cals for a effing biscuit. What a waste.
I work at a Hospital and this is why I pack my lunch 🙂