Austria
Image Source: npr.org
This tray of food is not the most appealing thing we’ve ever seen…hospitals in Austria serve their patients a plate of cold meats with one wedge of tomato and a spoonful of cottage cheese. Alongside this they are given a beige coloured soup with some bread and butter.
Hungary
Image Source: npr.org
You'll certainly leave feeling hung-ary after a stay in this hospital…patients are served very strange looking bright pink shredded meat alongside two slices of dry white bread. Unfortunately, there isn’t much else on the tray that can save this sorry mess.
Paris
Image Source: soscuisine.com
It comes as no surprise that French hospitals serve food that could be worthy of being room service. Patients are lucky enough to have stewed chicken in a sauce with fresh vegetables, half a baguette and a generous side salad. The star of the show has to be the cheesecake.
Poland
Image Source: soscuisine.com
The meals in Polish hospitals will leave you feeling hungrier than ever…a typical breakfast consists of one slice of white bread topped with a slab of butter. On the side, the patients receive a big lump of cucumber and a small slice of cured sausage.
Italy
Image Source: npr.org
Patients in Italy don’t go hungry when they are served immaculate restaurant-quality dishes like these. This is a typical lunchtime meal in an Italian hospital, which consists of sausages on a bed on lentils served with fresh vegetables and onion gravy.
South Korea
Image Source: npr.org
In South Korea, patients don’t have to suffer with trays of processed inedible food. Instead, they can enjoy delicious fresh rice bowls topped with vegetable fritters. On the side they are given soy sauce and other condiments to enjoy their meal alongside a drink of their choice.
Scotland
Image Source: npr.org
This plate of food served in a hospital in Scotland has a lot to answer for…the ratio of green beans to quiche is quite alarming, I don’t think anyone has ever requested a triple serving of vegetables. The dry corner of quiche isn’t looking too appealing either.
New Zealand
Image Source: npr.org
This has to be the most artificial looking meal we have seen so far…this hospital gives patients one slice of dry meat covered in a thick brown gravy. This is served with a scoop of mash potato and very sorry looking vegetables. For dessert, they get two slices of tinned peaches.
Wales
Image Source: Daily Mail
It might be hard to believe but this is supposed to be a chicken tikka masala with rice…shocking, we know. This monstrosity was served to a patient in a hospital in Wales, which quite frankly would probably hinder your recovery more than anything as it is completely inedible.
Romania
Image Source: Daily Mail
Yet another plate of food that will leave you feeling hungrier than ever…a hospital in Romania serves this to their patients for breakfast. Three small slices of white bread are wrapped in clingfilm alongside one tiny square of butter and a slither of pâté.
Osaka
Image Source: ranker.com
Known as the food capital of Japan, it is no surprise that patients in hospitals in Osaka are served these gorgeous bento boxes at mealtimes. Here we can see patients are given two types on noodles, three different soup broths, barbecued meat and tempura vegetables.
Ireland
Image Source: Daily Mail
‘Beans and eggs’ doesn’t sound like the worst breakfast in the world…until you see this plate. A hospital in Ireland has very kindly served this patients hard boiled eggs in the shell drowning in a plate of baked beans. I’m not sure this is what they had in mind when they ordered their meal.
Chicago
Image Source: Daily Mail
It looks like hospitals in Chicago are putting their patients on a diet…this poor person must have been very disappointed to receive the tiniest bread roll in the world alongside a small pot of cream cheese. The single leaf was a nice added touch of decoration to the sorry looking meal.
London
Image Source: food.ndtv.com
It might not be as good as the piece and mash you’ll get in a shop in East London, but it doesn’t look too shabby. Patients at this hospital also receive a watery looking tomato soup and a banana for dessert. It might not be the best meal in the world, but its’ not the worst.
Qatar
Image Source: ranker.com
In Qatar, the hospital food is served in white plastic dishes with segregates each component. This meal consists of a meat stew served with brown rice and a side salad. For dessert there is a pot of yoghurt and a fresh orange. Cutlery and napkins are also placed on the side.
Estonia
Image Source: soscuisine.com
A typical meal in a hospital in Estonia consists of a meat stew served with crushed potatoes and a side salad. On the side, patients are given a cold drink such as a glass of milk. Patients are also given a fresh sweet pasty filled with vanilla cream.
Germany
Image Source: soscuisine.com
Patients in German hospitals are usually served traditional dishes, such as ‘schweineschnitzel’ which is a pork schnitzel served with a gravy sauce and macaroni pasta. They are also given a fresh cake for dessert, as well as a pot of chocolate pudding yoghurt.
Switzerland
Image Source: The Guardian
It won’t be a shock to find out this pristine plate of food was served at a hospital in Switzerland. They are known for providing outstanding healthcare services, which includes the meals they give to their patients. A typical lunchtime meal consists of poached salmon served with fresh vegetables.
Norway
Image Source: food.ndtv.com
There seems to be a common thing with hospital food in European countries…there isn’t very much of it. This hospital in Norway serves patients one beef patty alongside a single slice of bread and the tiniest pot of salad we have ever seen. On the bright side, at least they give patients a bit of butter.
Greece
Image Source: ranker.com
A typical hospital meal in Greece is immaculately presented and features many of their traditional dishes including lamb chops, potatoes and a greek salad with feta and olives. It even comes with a bread roll on the side, and a delicious fresh cream cake slice for dessert.
Indonesia
Image Source: soscuisine.com
Hospitals in Indonesia serve their patients a large bowl of fresh rice alongside fresh vegetables and herbs which they can use to top the rice. They are also given a clear broth soup and two eggs on the side for extra protein. To drink, patients usually have tea.
South Africa
Image Source: ranker.com
A typical breakfast in hospital in South Africa looks more like a traditional English breakfast than anything else. Patients are served pork sausages, poached eggs, hash brows and grilled tomatoes in the morning. They are also given a side of toast and a fresh pot of tea.
Malaysia
Image Source: soscuisine.com
Patients staying in Malaysian are served some tasty items at mealtimes. This is a prime example of a typical lunch consisting on rice noodles sautéed with fresh vegetables served with a fried chicken leg. They can also enjoy an array of hot drinks such as a frothy coffee.
Mexico
Image Source: ranker.com
This one leaves a lot to be desired…patients in Mexican hospitals aren’t served the most gourmet dishes during their stay. This is an example of what they receive for lunch, which consists of dry chicken and vegetable kebab sticks and corn on the cob.
Melbourne
Image Source: soscuisine.com
This clean cut meal was served at a hospital in Melbourne. The patients typically receive a beef stew served with mashed potatoes and vegetables. On the side is an onion soup, a brioche roll with butter and even an array of sandwiches. Finally, patients finished their meal with a passionfruit dessert and fresh fruit.
New York
Image Source: soscuisine.com
Not the most exciting looking meal in the world but it certainly looks edible. Hospitals in Sydney typically serve their patients salmon cakes in a creamy sauce served with rice and vegetables. On the side is a very grey looking soup and a dry piece of cake for dessert.
Sweden
Image Source: soscuisine.com
Hospitals in Sweden serve very generic and bland meals to their patients. Here is a typical example, featuring shredded chicken served with white rice and microwave vegetables which is then drowned in a bright yellow sauce. No side dishes, just an orange!
Sydney
Image Source: soscuisine.com
This meal served in a hospital in Sydney is so perfect it looks like it could be made out of plastic…chicken stew is served alongside a perfect scoop of mash potato and green peas. Patients also get given a variety of side dishes, including fresh bread and fruit jelly.
Tokyo
Image Source: soscuisine.com
This hospital in Tokyo serves each item in a pristine white dish, leaving patients to enjoy their meal as they please. The tray includes a bowl of dumplings alongside white rice and miso soup with vegetables. Patients are given a cream dessert with fruit, alongside a drink of their choice.
Massachusetts
Image Source: soscuisine.com
This tray of food isn’t the most inspiring thing we’ve ever seen…a very generous looking salad next to a covered plate which we can assume is the main dish. The pot of soup looks bland and grey, with the strange addition of a floating cracker?
Phoenix, Arizona
Image Source / Bored Panda
This meal actually wasn't served for a hospital patient - which would be bad enough - but it was served to a nurse of the hospital for Nurse's Appreciation Week. So apparently a questionable sausage is enough to say thank you for all a nurse's hard work.
Hungary
Image Source / Bored Panda
On first glance, this may seem very questionable, as well as a measly portion. But this sweet onion, bread and sweet cheese combination is actually quite a popular choice in Hungary, and not to mention it's appetising compared to some of the monstrosities on this list...
Georgia, USA
Image Source / Bored Panda
Another outstanding 'thank you' for staff's hard work during Nurse's Appreciation Week - for this one, admin told the nurses they'd be treated to dinner during their shift - but obviously playing fast and loose with the word 'treat'. Here's one frozen and uncooked meatloaf.
America
Image Source / Bored Panda
I don't know what's worse - the two tiny, measly sausages or the fact it was actually attempted to look a little more fancy with some herbs thrown on the side. At the very least there's a fruit and yoghurt option on the side, so it's better than nothing, I guess...
Italy
Image Source / Bored Panda
You can draw your own conclusions about what this is. It kinda looks like a frog, but it definitely looks like very questionable, grey and unappetising roadkill meat. It does look like this was part of a meal with the rest eaten, though (we hope, because this is barely enough on its own).
Germany
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You know how it works when you're vegetarian - everyone presumes all you eat is a massive dish of carrots. At the very least you could say it's a generous portion, and it's healthy, and compared to some of the stuff on this list, I'd happily eat this without complaint.
Austria
Image Source / Bored Panda
Apparently the big pink slab is some sort of 'liver cheese' native to this part of the world, with a consistency like mousse (but whether it's supposed to be that consistency or this was just a bad example, we'll never know). It was paired with paprika sauce, mash and pea puree - which actually sounds quite well balanced all round.
Ireland
Image Source / Bored Panda
This might actually be passable as a very hearty and filling meal if it wasn't so grey and sloppy. Rice, cauliflower, carrots and what looks like sprouts of course could be considered a healthy hospital meal, but it's the grey meat (?) that's worrying.
UK
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It looks like this began as quite an appetitising meal - it looks like it could be a chicken curry of some sort with chicken chunks, carrots, peas and a nice sauce. It's just the green gloop on top that ruins it. Are they supposed to be mushy peas? With mushy taken to the extreme?
Romania
Image Source / Bored Panda
So to start with - at least the bread is wrapped up in cling film, so hopefully that means it's kept fresh and untouched. After that, your guess is as good as mine. The meat is clearly barely enough to make a decent sandwich, so it looks like after that it's just plain buttered bread.
Lithuania
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For those who don't know Lithuanian cuisine, it could take 50 guesses to think what this could be. First look, it appears like a slab of cheese. Or maybe butter. But then the mousse-like appearance from the bit that has been cut cancels that idea out. Well, apparently, it's egg.
Chicago
Image Source / Bored Panda
Here's hoping that the stuff in the container is butter for a start, otherwise that dry bread roll is going to be... well... dry. But what makes all the difference, naturally, is the microscopic piece of garnish that really brings the whole meal together.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Image Source / Bored Panda
A huge chunk of chicken and a generous side of sweetcorn actually sounds like a great hospital meal on paper. But when you see it, the extra portion of grease just ruins the entire thing. This is enough to make anyone want to throw up.
Poland
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This looks like it's been both cooked and reheated about ten times before being served. Maybe if the patient doesn't eat it the first time they just reheat it and serve it again. Either way, it's past the point of recognition. Carrot and swede, maybe, with a side of vomit?
Germany
Image Source / Bored Panda
If you're in a hospital in Germany awaiting food, you probably wouldn't be surprised to be served a sausage. But you might be surprised to be served
this sausage. That's apparently a Leberwurst (liver sausage). Is that cheese underneath, or butter for the bread?
France
Image Source / Bored Panda
As a starting point, the boiled potatoes actually look more than fine. A generous portion, and seasoned. It's what's on the rest of the plate that's a problem. What do you think it is? Liver? Chicken? Questionable meat? Apparently it's supposed to be boiled cabbage.
USA
Image Source / Bored Panda
First off, that's clearly a microwave meal tray, so it's been served straight from being nuked without even prepared on a proper plate. The grey gloop on the left looks like it might have something healthy in it, like carrots, but your guess is as good as mine.
New Mexico
Image Source / Bored Panda
To be fair, compared to every other meal on this list, this looks like the safest and most appetising option. It's a cooked potato, which is bound to be warming and filling, and what looks to be some tasty salsa or guacamole on top. There's definitely nothing off-putting about this, all things considered...
Wales
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This might be one of those situations where it actually tastes better than it looks (hopefully). This was apparently supposed to be a chicken tikka curry, though it looks like it was microwaved for far too long. 10 days too long.
Toronto
Image Source / Bored Panda
I really hope at the very least there's some condiments available somewhere, because this could be fine as a quick meal with some ketchup or mustard (ignoring the fact that the bread to sausage ratio is completely off).