Posted on 08/03/2025 4:27:57 PM PDT by ConservativeMind
In the world's first comprehensive study to evaluate both the nutritional quality and environmental footprint of food served in health care institutions using detailed, food-level data, researchers assessed menus and food procurement data from two hospitals and three nursing homes of average size in Germany. These institutions' foodservice likely reflects that of many health care institutions in high-income countries.
"We found that meals contained too few healthy plant-based foods such as vegetables, fruits, whole grains and legumes, and too many refined grains, added sugars, salt and saturated fats," says Lisa Pörtner. "This leads to an inadequate provision of nutrients and low dietary quality."
At all the institutions analyzed, meals fell critically short of the recommended daily intake of key nutrients such as folate, potassium and vitamin B6, with nursing homes also falling short in protein provision.
"Calories from wholesome plant-based foods made up less than one-fifth of energy provision in all institutions," Pörtner adds.
At the same time, refined grains made up over 20% of calories, and red meat accounted for 10 to 17%—resulting in poor overall dietary quality.
"Our results indicate that food served in health care settings poses a health risk if consumed over the long term, as unhealthy diets are a major cause of chronic illness," explains Nathalie Lambrecht.
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
Not much different than schools and jails.
Or any other institutional setting.
I’ve been in a home for a year now and the food is fair at best. Too many carbs, too much high fructose corn syrup, everything cooked is overcooked due to fear of bacterial transmission and they don’t want residents to have their own mini-fridges or microwave ovens - thus dependent on already overtaxed staff for dumb crap I’d rather do myself.
Way too many calories overall so I eat breakfast, save lunch in an ice cooler and eat it for dinner if the served dinner sucks (50/50). Often I combine the best elements of lunch and dinner for a decent meal. Even two meals daily is excessive due to lower activity, and I walk around the building four or five times a day and attend the gym room that’s actually occupational therapy stuff.
Breakfast is usually good but they make ‘eggs to order’ like Henry Ford painted Model T’s. “Any way you want as long as they’re scrambled”. From what I hear from the other residents most other places in my bracket are far worse so blessings counted.
It would be nice if the nursing home food was good and tasty. Old folks there have little to look forward to left in life. Often the food is tasteless and drab.
People in a nursing facility are on their way out and nutrition is no longer important to them.
Bkmk
Coule years ago, I spent 3 nights in hospital. They had contracted food out. It was actually pretty good, if you made the right choices.
I was in a rehab situation for two weeks this year. The food was inevitable. They sent the nutritionist to talk to me and I told her that there is nothing in Real on the plate. It was on plastic food and it couldn’t possibly make anybody healthy and I couldn’t eat it. It was useless. She had no idea what I was talking about. So I had to have people bring me a protein powder and juices and coconut water to survive.
It’s a shame they have to cook everything to death. Removes nutrients and flavor.
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