Un-Paleo Hospital Food

One of my favourite blogs is Notes from a Hospital Bed, which was started by a journalist during a long stay in a UK hospital. You won't be surprised to hear that he wasn't served Paleo Hospital Food!

The blogger was shocked about the food he was served each day, so took photos and posted them on his blog.

 

In hospital good nutrition is obviously paramount to enable patients to recover and regain strength. Hospitals obviously don't serve Paleo food (but hopefully in  the not too distant future they will?), but even by Conventional Wisdom the food served in hospital leaves a lot to be desired.

When I had a short stay in hospital a couple of years ago I found it very hard to navigate the food options. Everything on offer was geared towards a low-fat agenda. The other key principle was that all of the food was quick and easy to prepare – and had long shelf lives. This meant everything was pre-packaged along with lots of undesirable ingredients.

I really feel for people in hospital – at the time they need good nutrition the most, they are all too often being given sub-standard food.

What Should Hospital Food Look Like?

At a time when patients are at their most vulnerable, every bite matters. Nutrition plays a critical role in healing, immune support, and overall recovery. Yet hospital food often seems stuck in a time warp — full of low-fat margarine sachets, powdered mash, and ultra-processed desserts. There’s a huge opportunity for hospitals to rethink the way they nourish patients by focusing on fresh, nutrient-dense, whole foods — many of which align naturally with a Paleo template.

Imagine a hospital menu featuring bone broth as a starter to support gut health and collagen repair. Or slow-cooked meats with a side of steamed seasonal veg, all drizzled with olive oil. Instead of white bread and jelly, patients could enjoy roasted sweet potato, avocado, or a simple chia pudding for dessert. Meals like these are far more likely to support recovery — not to mention satisfy the taste buds.

The Problem with Processed Hospital Meals

One of the biggest challenges with current hospital food is its reliance on pre-packaged, heavily processed items. These are typically chosen for cost, shelf life, and ease of preparation — not nutrition. Many contain hydrogenated oils, synthetic additives, thickeners, preservatives, and added sugar. These ingredients may tick the box on paper for “calories provided”, but they fall short when it comes to actual nourishment.

Meals are often loaded with refined carbohydrates, but sorely lacking in quality protein, healthy fats, and micronutrients. And when fat is included, it’s rarely the good kind — you’re more likely to see canola spread than a dollop of grass-fed butter or coconut oil. Add to this the common practice of overcooking vegetables until they’re grey and limp, and it’s easy to see why patients feel underwhelmed and undernourished.

How the Paleo Approach Could Improve Patient Outcomes

Adopting a more Paleo-aligned menu in hospitals doesn’t mean everyone has to go full carnivore or ditch carbs entirely. Rather, it’s about replacing processed fare with whole, real ingredients — something that benefits all patients, regardless of dietary preference.

The benefits of a Paleo-style hospital food approach might include:

• Faster healing thanks to nutrient-dense meals rich in zinc, vitamin A, protein, and omega-3 fats
• Better blood sugar control for post-surgical patients or those managing chronic illness
• Fewer digestive issues from avoiding problematic ingredients like gluten, seed oils, and excess sugar
• Improved patient satisfaction by offering meals that feel nourishing, familiar, and flavourful

Examples of Paleo-Inspired Hospital Meals

Some hospitals overseas are starting to rethink their food offerings. While not labelled as “Paleo,” these changes align with many of the same principles — whole, unprocessed ingredients and a focus on quality protein and veg. Here are a few sample meals that could fit well in a Paleo hospital food pilot:

• Grilled chicken thigh with pumpkin mash, steamed zucchini and a drizzle of olive oil
• Oven-baked salmon with lemon, sautéed spinach, and roasted carrots
• Breakfast of scrambled eggs, avocado, and grilled tomato
• A light broth-based soup with shredded beef, carrots, and herbs
• Snack of fresh fruit and a handful of activated nuts

These meals are simple, easy to batch cook, and free from the ultra-processed additives found in typical hospital fare. And best of all — they actually taste good.

How Can Change Happen?

There are several barriers to overhauling hospital food, including budget constraints, supplier contracts, outdated guidelines, and a lack of nutritional education among food service staff. But positive change is possible. It begins with advocacy and awareness — from both healthcare professionals and patients.

Some steps that can support progress include:

• Training kitchen staff in whole food preparation and safe handling of fresh produce and meat
• Allowing patients more menu flexibility to cater to dietary needs beyond standard hospital diets
• Encouraging local procurement of fresh, seasonal ingredients where possible
• Updating hospital nutrition guidelines to reflect current evidence on fat, sugar, and processed food impacts

In Australia, some private hospitals and health centres are beginning to move in the right direction, offering fresher and more diverse options. But there’s still a long way to go, especially in public hospitals where funding and policies remain major obstacles.

What You Can Do If You're in Hospital

If you or a loved one is admitted to hospital and trying to stick to a real food or Paleo-style diet, it’s worth having a plan in place. Here are some practical strategies:

• Ask for simple substitutions – Many hospitals will swap white bread for fruit, or margarine for extra veg if requested
• Bring snacks – With permission, keep a stash of compliant foods on hand like boiled eggs, jerky, or nuts
• Enlist help from visitors – Ask a friend or family member to bring in a nourishing meal made with real ingredients
• Speak up – Feedback on hospital food matters, and dietary preference forms or patient surveys are one place your voice can be heard

While you might not get a grass-fed steak or wild-caught fish on your tray anytime soon, these small changes can help you stay as close to your real food values as possible during your stay.

Let’s Keep the Conversation Going

The more we talk about hospital food — and the more we demand real, nutrient-dense meals — the sooner we’ll see lasting change. Paleo is about more than six-pack abs or elimination diets. At its heart, it’s a return to food that nourishes, strengthens, and heals. And where better to start that shift than in hospitals?

If you've had a hospital experience that went against your food values, or you've found creative ways to stick to real food while recovering, I'd love to hear your story. Let's push for a future where good nutrition is part of the prescription — not an afterthought.

If you've been in hospital, what was the food like? Were you able to keep it Paleo? Perhaps one day there will be a Paleo Hospital Food option?