A month eating hospital food could be wearing. With gluten and lactose problems my selections were limited. I ate a variety of food over three weeks, and most of it was quite tasty. In the Rehab there are therapists called ST, or speech therapists. They must certify that you be removed from the dietary restriction of 'Mechanical Soft'; you could think of them as 'swallowing therapists'. Vanessa and Emily, I am happy to have known you... and happy that you placed me on 'General' diet. General doesn't have every kind of food cut up into tiny cubes. I often stop for lunch at the Cafe behind the gift shop at Reading Hospital; the food is that good.