Eating in hospital: the ward, the tray and food from home
Leukemia treatment often means long days in hospital. Hospital food is not always tasty, and family want to bring food from home. This section explains how to eat in hospital and bring home food safely.
01Short answer
02Simple explanation
Hospital food is a safe choice.
From home: fresh, hot, sealed.
The 2-hour rule.
Ask for a dietitian.
03Scientific explanation
LLS: for people with weak immunity, food from home should be freshly made and eaten quickly; many centres have their own rules.
ESPEN: enough energy and protein matter for preventing weight and muscle loss in people with cancer, and nutritional status should be assessed regularly.
NCI: practical eating tips exist for treatment side effects such as nausea, taste changes and mouth sores.
04What happens in the body?
Food from home
Do not cook in the morning to bring in the evening; bring it straight after cooking in a sealed insulated container. Do not take leftovers home; throw them away.
Menu choices
If you can choose from the hospital menu, pick protein-rich, soft dishes, and tell the nurse about taste changes.
Dietitian
If you are losing weight, have no appetite or need a special diet, ask to see the hospital dietitian.
Food safety
Food-safety rules for neutropenia (see “Handwashing: the simplest protection” and “Eggs and dairy: safe choices”) apply at every stage.
05Nutrition: four steps
Assess, swap the risky, cook safely, eat regularly.
06Key points at a glance
| Topic | In brief |
|---|---|
 Food from home | Do not cook in the morning to bring in the evening; bring it straight after cooking in a sealed insulated container. Do not take leftovers home; throw them away. |
 Menu choices | If you can choose from the hospital menu, pick protein-rich, soft dishes, and tell the nurse about taste changes. |
| Dietitian | If you are losing weight, have no appetite or need a special diet, ask to see the hospital dietitian. |
| Food safety | Food-safety rules for neutropenia (see “Handwashing: the simplest protection” and “Eggs and dairy: safe choices”) apply at every stage. |
07Key terms
- Insulated container
- A sealed container that keeps food hot.
- Ward fridge
- A shared fridge for patients’ food.
- Dietitian
- A nutrition specialist.
- Protein
- A nutrient for repairing muscles and tissues.
- Neutropenia
- Low neutrophils.
08Key points
- Trust hospital food.
- Home food: fresh and hot.
- Throw away leftovers.
- A diet is not a treatment.
- Talk to a dietitian.
09Frequently asked questions
Can my family bring plov from home?
If your team allows it: freshly cooked, hot and eaten at once.
What if I am hungry at night?
Ask the nurse; you can keep sealed biscuits, yogurt and fruit.
Can a special diet cure leukemia?
No. Good nutrition helps you cope with treatment, but it does not cure.
10Questions for your doctor
Take these questions to your appointment. The ones you save are collected on the “My questions” page and stay on this device only.
Can my family bring plov from home?
What if I am hungry at night?
Can a special diet cure leukemia?
12Sources
- National Cancer Institute. Eating Hints: Before, During, and After Cancer Treatment
- ESPEN. ESPEN practical guideline: Clinical Nutrition in cancer (2021)
- Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Food and Nutrition
- World Health Organization. Healthy diet fact sheet
- NHS. Meat in your diet
- World Health Organization (WHO). Campylobacter — fact sheet
- European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). Salmonella
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health — The Nutrition Source. Protein
- U.S. FDA. Advice about Eating Fish
- MedlinePlus. Prednisone