The Whine Guide: A Resource for Foodie Parents: Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford

Today was Jack's check up and chemotherapy treatment at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital. This June Jack was diagnosed with a rare blood disease, Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis (LCH). In LCH, white blood cells 'misbehave' (as one doctor described it) and attack healthy bone, tissue, and organs. The cells are healthy and the disease does not spread from system to system so it is not classified as a Cancer, but the treatment is very similar. In any case, Jack is doing very well and is much tougher and more brave than any of us could have imagined.

We are very lucky to live in Northern California and have a resource such as Stanford with its amazing medical staff only a couple of hours away! The hospital grounds are beautiful and the inside is cleaner than you would even expect. The doctors and nurses are filled with seemingly unending amounts of hope and positive energy.You'll usually find volunteers running fun project tables. Board games and toys, vibrant fish filled tanks, a massive model train village, Disney and Sprouts TV playing on big screens, are all among the well orchestrated distractions that fill each room. The small little faces that pass you in the hall or sit next to you in reception are generally wearing smiles, regardless of the dark circles under their eyes or balding heads. I could tell you story upon story about this place and these people that might inspire you, possibly bring a tear, and definitely revive your faith in the human spirit, but I won't. 1) Because you already know the smallest are most times the strongest and a little hope goes a long way & 2) this is a food blog.

So let me tell you about the hospital cafeteria. (May you never have to come here for any other reason than the birth of a healthy new baby.) Matt and I agree that it has some of the healthiest and best priced hospital meals around. They offer locally sourced fruits, a huge selection of Odwalla juices, organic snacks, as well as your classic bags of chips for the quick grab.Comfortable indoor and outdoor seating is available. And there is a Starbucks cart with hot brew each morning. The only negative I can think of (considering it's in a hospital) is the size of the place. It is guaranteed that I will take someone out with my stroller during each visit.

Below is my personal rating system:
1 (I could have pulled my hair out) to 5(I wanted to give hugs and high-fives) & other important details...
Food: 3
Service: 3
Child friendliness: 5
Best dining time: Anytime
Baby changing station: Yes
Stroller access: Extremely Limited
Hospital website: http://www.lpch.org/