Foods you have discovered as a Nurse

netglow, ASN, RN · Dec 18, 2012

V O D K A

Flare, ASN, BSN · Dec 18, 2012

not the healthiest, but one of my fellow nurses taught me early in my career that the ratio for hospital cafeteria egg salad is one hard boiled egg to one packet of mayo. Makes the perfect am pick-me-up especially on those days that you probably won't get lunch!

somenurse · Dec 18, 2012

Having moved allll over the USA, i have 'met' many foods at carry-ins.

One was a fruit, brought in by a coworker, when i lived on southern coast of Alabama. It looked vaquely like a kiwi mixed with a grape,

and when everyone found out i'd never tasted one, they all excitedly urged me to taste it. So i popped it into my mouth, and they all laughed and cried out "no! no! not like THAT!" It was horrible, i had to spit it out.

(Apparently, this fruit has to be peeled first). Then they demonstrated, holding the giant grape-like fruit close you mouth, and squeeze the inner contents into your mouth, and discarding the peel.

wish i could remember the name of that fruit, i've never seen it before or since.

On Cape Cod, they got me into steamed clams, and 'clam bakes' which took some getting used to (sand in all your food). Also, clam chowder, seafood of all kinds, and their love of cranberries is beyond words, and how they can find ways to add cranberries to most anything.

On the Texas border, some coworkers brought in something they called 'menudo' (spelling? i might have the name wrong) Which is seen as a very festive dish, made at the holidays. It looked somewhat like small burritos,

and the meat inside, was pig brains. Which explained why i was seeing bins of frozen pig heads in bags in the stores that month. It was delicious, though.

In California, i did develop the ability to eat alfalfa sprouts being sprinkled on most anything at all, but never quite liked nor understood why avocados are also added to most everything, too.

dawg, i wish i could remember all the new things i've been exposed to by moving all over....

somenurse · Dec 18, 2012

to the OP, yes yes, hummus is wonderful, especially SPICEY hummus, YUM!! I re-developed a love of hummus, when i joined "MyFitnessPal.com"

in some discussions there, got me to reconsider using high-fat veggie dips, and use hummus instead. Tons and tons of wonderful recipes there, for lower fat/higher nutrition items.

ON that site, i've learned (re-learned, actually) much healthier ways to eat all over again. (i'd gotten sloppy in recent years, eating too high of calorie items)

FlorenceNtheMachine · Dec 18, 2012

Having moved allll over the USA, i have 'met' many foods at carry-ins.
One was a fruit, brought in by a coworker, when i lived on southern coast of Alabama. It looked vaquely like a kiwi mixed with a grape,
and when everyone found out i'd never tasted one, they all excitedly urged me to taste it. So i popped it into my mouth, and they all laughed and cried out "no! no! not like THAT!" It was horrible, i had to spit it out.
(Apparently, this fruit has to be peeled first). Then they demonstrated, holding the giant grape-like fruit close you mouth, and squeeze the inner contents into your mouth, and discarding the peel.
wish i could remember the name of that fruit, i've never seen it before or since.
On Cape Cod, they got me into steamed clams, and 'clam bakes' which took some getting used to (sand in all your food). Also, clam chowder, seafood of all kinds, and their love of cranberries is beyond words, and how they can find ways to add cranberries to most anything.
On the Texas border, some coworkers brought in something they called 'menudo' (spelling? i might have the name wrong) Which is seen as a very festive dish, made at the holidays. It looked somewhat like small burritos,
and the meat inside, was pig brains. Which explained why i was seeing bins of frozen pig heads in bags in the stores that month. It was delicious, though.
In California, i did develop the ability to eat alfalfa sprouts being sprinkled on most anything at all, but never quite liked nor understood why avocados are also added to most everything, too.
dawg, i wish i could remember all the new things i've been exposed to by moving all over....

The grapes are called muscadines!! And I do agree, the hummus with a big dollop of chili paste is the yummiest.

somenurse · Dec 18, 2012

The grapes are called muscadines!! And I do agree, the hummus with a big dollop of chili paste is the yummiest.

THAT'S IT! THAT'S IT WAS !!! Ha, i've been wondering for eons what was that fruit called! Oh thank you!! They were delicious, so long as one knew the proper way to eat one!! ha ha!!

liveyourlife747 · Dec 18, 2012

I had never had fresh pomegranate until a coworker shared at lunch. I love those things now!!

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · Dec 18, 2012

My big culture shock moment was when I moved to AZ from the Northeast as a one week-new grad and got taken out to lunch after the first morning of State Boards by a new coworker. Mexican food, OMG. Yup, I got introduced to it. Doesn't mean I want a continuing relationship, though.

SwansonRN · Dec 19, 2012

Gelato :) they have it in one of our cafes. I get the coconut flavor. Let me tell you...it is divine.

Nursetastic · Dec 19, 2012

You are referring to tamales, not menudo. Tamales (tah-MAH-lehs) are corn masa wrapped around meat (usually shredded pork with red chile here in my border town) all wrapped in a dried corn husk and steamed to cook. They are delicious! Using the entire pork head is still done, but I'm not brave enough to try them when they are made that way.

Menudo is a red chile soup with hominy. The meat that makes it menudo is beef tripe (blech). The same soup with chunks of pork is called "posole" (po-SO-lay). Both tamales and menudo are served in my house every Christmas instead of turkey or ham. Menudo is also a very popular hangover cure...again, I'm just not brave enough to try it.

Having moved allll over the USA, i have 'met' many foods at carry-ins.
On the Texas border, some coworkers brought in something they called 'menudo' (spelling? i might have the name wrong) Which is seen as a very festive dish, made at the holidays. It looked somewhat like small burritos,
and the meat inside, was pig brains. Which explained why i was seeing bins of frozen pig heads in bags in the stores that month. It was delicious, though.

Vinniesguy · Dec 19, 2012

I was horrified at an LTC I worked at to see Monkey Gland Steak on the menu!

Turned out to be just regular beef steak with some kind of onion gravy.

Not a monkey in sight - nor any of the glands.

The kitchen staff had no idea of the origins of the name - just that was what it was called!