When you're sick, eat foods that make you feel good!
Eating is perhaps the last thing you feel like doing when you are sick. But it is important that you get energy, nutrition and fluid in order for your body to be able to heal and get healthy.
You probably recognize yourself; when you are sick, you lose your appetite and it can feel difficult to eat. The sense of smell is affected, food rarely tastes as good and it can be difficult to both chew and swallow. However, when you're sick, it's perhaps more important than ever that your body gets the nutrients and energy it needs.
Michaela Signorelli Wallin from Coor is responsible for the operations that prepare and serve all patient meals at Karolinska University Hospital in Solna.
"We create food that does good," she says. It should taste good, look good and also meet the different needs of patients.
Few things have had such a bad reputation as "hospital food" and it was a challenge that Coor was happy to accept. At the end of 2018, a completely new concept was launched at Karolinska with a focus on the meal experience. The food is now served tasty and fragrant, in a way that excites the appetite and stimulates increased eating.
Michaela and her team have composed a well-thought-out menu.
"The food should feel homemade, because that makes you feel safe," she says. We cook everything from scratch in the kitchen at Karolinska with fresh ingredients that are largely organic and Swedish. For example, we only use Swedish poultry, MSC-labelled fish and eggs from free-range hens. We even make our own ice cream here!
The focus is on food that patients like, but with "an extra little twist". We make an effort to ensure that many different age groups and different nationalities find food they recognize on the wide menus," she continues. "There is something for all tastes, the opportunity to try something new every day or choose a favorite in replay. She also talks about the unique children's menu that offers endless combination possibilities... to the taste of the pickiest little patient.
"We also serve so-called 'wishful food' with, for example, hamburgers and pizza. Just to actually get something - whatever it is - can make a crucial difference for those who have been unlucky and become ill!
All portions served at the hospital are of course nutritionally calculated down to the smallest detail together with dieticians to ensure that the content is as good as possible for the patients, even for those who need special diets.
"We offer good food that we like ourselves and that we can stand for," Michaela explains. Over the years, she has learned what food works and is happy to share her best tips with those who are sick and need to eat.
The Swedish health-care information page 1177.se states that "The food you eat while in hospital is part of your treatment." Keep in mind that this also applies if you are sick at home; Eat and drink! And choose good food that does you good!
Tips – how you should eat when you're sick
Small portions: If you're not hungry, you'd rather see small snacks than large mountains of food.
Eat little and often: It's kind to the stomach and works up the appetite. Three olives and a Piggelin is far better than nothing. Next time, you might be able to do more.
Familiar foods: Choose flavors and textures you recognize and like. Preferably several different nice flavors in small bites. Many people prefer pure flavors, that you don't mix things up.
Snacks: Even adults need something in between meals, and the hospital has even developed its very own menu for snacks: It offers refreshing smoothies, yoghurt and fruit or omelettes.
Foods with a lot of energy – and nutrition: Choose foods that give a lot per bite; spread butter on the bread, cook with extra fat and nibble on olives, avocados, nuts or grapes. Just when you are sick is not the right time to follow extreme diets, lose weight or choose sugar-free. That doesn't mean jelly rats will cure you... But a couple of them might make you alert enough to eat some real food too!
Drink: When you're sick, you get dehydrated easily and it's important to stay hydrated. At Karolinska, a lot of cherry juice and apple juice are consumed. You can flavour water with fruit or cucumber, or why not try the flavours strawberry & basil, blueberry & mint or the classic ginger & lemon.
COOR IN BRIEF
Coor: one of the leading service companies in the Nordic region, and food & beverage is one of Coor's largest services. Patient meals are successfully offered under the company's own brand
Signature by Coor: a groundbreaking concept for food in the public sector. Runs the newly built preparation kitchen at Karolinska University Hospital in Solna. They serve 600 portions of food per day and supply all departments with goods for breakfast, coffee and snacks. The assignment also includes meal hosts in 24 departments and dietary expertise on site.
Patient in focus: With a strong focus on service, it is the meal experience itself that is at the center, appreciated by both the hospital's clients and all diners. Good, nutritious food combined with a high level of service is the goal – all with the patient in focus.
