Whether you’re on your way to the hospital for a scheduled surgery or in an ambulance for an emergency hospital visit, the last thing on your mind may be what you’re going to eat while you’re in the hospital. It can be difficult for a vegetarian and vegan to satisfy their preferences without knowing the options.
If you are able, you can prepare everything you need for your stay, especially if the hospital does not have a vegetarian menu. You can bring small amounts of food, snacks or light meals with you. For example, nuts, dried fruits, canned vegetables, and crackers. Find out if there are restaurants near the hospital that serve vegetarian or vegan food.
Hospital visits are not always predictable, and if you are hospitalized while traveling, your ability to prepare ahead of time may be limited. Lack of preparation does not mean that a hospital stay will be a disaster.
Friends and family members can also help the patient by knowing what foods they can bring from the grocery store or restaurant. Family members and friends who would like to bring food should discuss their options with a dietitian to ensure that the food they bring is in accordance with the patient’s prescribed diet.
If you are unable to eat and need to be fed through a tube, you will need to pay special attention to the contents of the fluids you are giving. You can feel comfortable knowing that most liquids are botanical. Many liquids contain casein (protein from cow’s milk). Some soy-based liquids contain non-animal ingredients, with the exception of vitamin D, which is derived from sheep’s wool. If you’re new to this, be sure to discuss alternative options with your doctor and dietitian. Treatment is usually short-lived and you can return to your normal diet over time.