Oh Mc-y You’re So Fine: Can Hospital Fare Be Harming Our Children

We are all inclined to believe (and perhaps rightfully so) that hospitals are facilities we visit when we are not feeling well in order to get the proper care, nutrition and medication and get back on our feet.

The question then remains and has many perplexed as to why these health care facilities are offering patients and their families’ fast food as a dietary option. This, note many is especially true of children’s hospitals, which make fast-food a staple on the “menu”.

In fact, many suggest that even offering fast food to the patients’ parents makes it appear as if some of these selections are actually healthy options.

And, statistics show at almost 60 of the nation’s 250 children’s hospitals offer fast-food via fast-food restaurant (on premise), a phenomenon that also helps contribute to obesity.

Many doctors agree and even state that the medical profession is actually sending two contradictory messages; one suggesting that nutrition and staying in shape are essential to good health and on the other hand providing unhealthy options such as fast-food for consumption.

They go on to note that an estimated 17 percent of American children can be classified as obese and several medical professionals believe that a high calorie content diet replete with greasy, high fat foods.

And, statistics also show that parents of children who received outpatient treatment at children’s hospitals were much more inclined to purchase fast food on the days their youngsters were being treated as compared to parents whose children were cared for at local area hospitals sans fast-food eateries (on premise).

Furthermore, parents of children treated at hospitals with fast-food options available were twice as likely to rate these choices as “healthy” compared to parents of children treated elsewhere.

Yet others “justify” these fatty food options as having been installed as a special treat for kids going through intense and difficult treatments. But, they do agree that key criteria should be continued communication between patients’ and their families and the medical professionals on staff, especially about what the best nutritional choices and what exactly constitutes a “treat”. Some even recommend collaboration WITH the fast-food restaurants to discuss and come up with acceptable, healthy (healthier) fare and options.