Ideas please

kingfisherblue

I hope that someone can help me with a few ideas about food. My friend is with her little boy in hospital for two weeks (nothing serious, related to her son's disabilities). I'm going to see her tomorrow (day three, so they are in for a while yet) and have asked her about the facilities for her meals. There is a hospital restaurant, which is pricey if using regularly and she's not keen on the meals. There is no access to a microwave or cooker.

I'm taking some home made vegetable soup, hot, in a food flask. I'm also taking in a ham salad - she's getting fed up of sandwiches already.

I'm hoping to take her a proper meal (maybe shepherd's pie). I thought that I could put it - hot - into a heated metal disposable container, wrap well in foil, and then wrap in a thick bath sheet to keep the heat in. Do you think this would keep it hot enough for her to eat about an hour after we get there?

Also, does anybody have any other ideas of meals that I can take in over the next couple of weeks, bearing in mind that she doesn't have access to cooking or reheating facilities, or a fridge to keep cold things fresh? I've thought about cereal bars, scones, cold pasta salad (to be eaten the same day so that it doesn't go off), but would like some better ideas if possible.

All help gratefully received, especially if it is simple to make . I'm not exactly brilliant at cooking and don't want her to end up as a patient :rotfl:

ajaney

When I was in the Maternity unit of the local hospital, my OH was able to have food from the patient menu for £1.50 - is this an option? She could maybe do this once a day for her main meal alongside your food (which is very kind of you to do so!)

ailuro2

Does she have access to hot water / a travel kettle - there are tonnes of things she could eat then - noodles, pasta, etc. that could be made any time of the day.

Think about a food flask rather than wrapping up pies in bath sheets, much nicer to have something piping hot than a lukewarm shepherd's pie, though it was a nice thought on your part.

Bloomin_Freezing2

Is there not a parents room around? There must be some facilities for longer stay patients. My cousin is often in for long periods at a time with her son and there are washing machines, and a fairly fully kitted out kitched.

Becles

Could you go in and sit with her son for a while so she can leave?

When my son was in, I was grateful for people who did that. I was able to come home and have a nice hot shower and a quiet rest at home which helped me a lot. It's very tiring looking after a child in hospital, especially at night as it's noisy so you don't get much sleep.

Gigglepig

Babybels should be ok for a while. Mini tomatoes will last, you can wash them for her to eat. Apples, grapes, other fruits and vegetables which don't need to be prepared. Hard boiled eggs. Canned foods. Nice bread lasts a while, oat cakes or crackers will last even longer.

If you take a freeze bag with a freeze element in it, you should be able to store pasta salad etc over night?

minerva_windsong

When my sister was in hospital after having my nephew my mum smuggled her in beans on toast in a Thermos. Maybe something like that?

suseb_99

What about stew or casserole in a wide necked thermos flask?
she could eat it with some nice bread!

kingfisherblue

Thanks for all the replies.

ajaney - that's not an option at our local hospital, but thank you for the suggestion.

ailuro2 - I've used a food flask to take in some home made soup today. She does have access to a kettle, so packet noodles and pasta are a good idea, thank you.

Bloomin Freezing2 - There is a parents room, but it isn't kitted out very well. It has a kettle and a fridge (she's found out today that she can leave labelled food there). When my son has been in hospital, it has always been Alder Hey and I've either had a room at Ronald MacDonald House or access to a well equipped parents' room, including cooking facilities and a shower room. Our local hospital, although large, does not tend to have longer stay child patients, as they are usually sent to Alder Hey. In my friend's case, though, her son isn't ill, it is a monitoring and retraining of a particular aspect of his medical condition.

Becles - you're not kidding when you say it's tiring having a child in hospital! I've been in the same situation many times and always find it exhausting. Her son hasn't adapted well to the change in his routine, so my friend leaving the hospital for a while isn't an option - yet! Hopefully I can do this next week when he is more settled.

Gigglepig (love the name ) - some good ideas, especially now that she knows she can use some fridge space. Thank you.

minerva_windsong and suseb_99 - I've used a food flask for soup today, but I'll try your ideas too. Thank you.