Family members bring us junk food!

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OK,so I'm kind of joking around a little bit but I'd love to see what other people in the healthcare field have to say about this one. So I kid you not almost everyday coming into work there is some kind of cake or cookies or anything high in sugar and fattening waiting for me and coworkers as a gift from family members. Now,i do love a piece of cake or a cupcake once every month or 2 but come on now. (Btw, I am very thankful that they give us things all the time) but why not say hey, here's a protein shake , or guys I know your on your feet 12+ hours a day, here's some extra memory foam padding for those shoes, or here's some tasty fruits and vegetables. I know this is crazy but I love the comments I get on here so I thought I'd throw these ideas out there. I know they well but they got to know we don't live off of cupcakes. Also, if we are in the business of keeping people healthy, wouldn't family members want us to be healthy instead of turning us into suger addicted unhealthy binge eaters? Like I said this post is me kind of joking around just wanting to see what you guys think about it.

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Specializes in Critical care.

It's a gift and they didn't need to bring anything in, so I'm always happy. I do understand what you are saying though. I LOVED the edible arrangement my unit received.

Maybe if we tell enough of our friends and family things will slowly change. A friend asked for suggestions when her husband was hospitalized- I said a thank you note is great and anything above that is awesome, but I would be even more thrilled with some fruit or something like that. She took in muffins, OJ, and fruit salad.

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I know and like I said , I am VERY thankful. Ive just always wondered what makes families assume caregivers love sweets. My grandma was in rehabilitation for a broken ankle and when she was discharged she gave my mom money to get the caregivers cookies and brownies. Its just a topic I wanted to get peoples thoughts on

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Doesn't everyone love sweets?

Do you need to convince kids to eat more sweet food? If the food that the dietititans want us to eat was as tasty they wouldn't have to keep nagging us to eat the steamed cruciferous vegetables.

Now just because it is a gift, doesn't mean you have to have some. If it helps, become a bit of a germphobe and picture those donuts and cupcakes being handled by people with unwashed hands.

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Specializes in CMSRN, hospice.

I dunno, I'm such a chocoholic I just get super excited when we get treats like that. I can agree that an edible arrangement, or bagels and coffee, or other non-sweets would be awesome, but it's still really nice that people make the effort to say show gratitude at all. If someone asks what we would like I always mention that a letter to our supervisor is always wonderful, but otherwise I guess I just appreciate the thought, even if it doesn't help t half hearted quest to stay skinny.

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I know. I'm saying it's hard to turn them down when their right there in front of you if your trying to eat healthier

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

People gift things that THEY would like. We had a family once bring us the most horrible, grease-soaked 'hamburgers shaped like hot dogs' once. They were AWFUL- but this family was so pleased to share it with us. It was apparently a great delicacy to them.

Never look a gift horse in the mouth. They're doing the best they know how.

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As far as funny anecdotes, Hospice likes to bring us sweets, the irony is not lost on me.

Sometimes I'm that person who brings in something healthy, like a bowl full of apples or cuties but people love the homemade cookies, too. Mostly I bring in some type of cheese, meat and fruit plate but that's to the office, not the nurses' station, not sure I could eat meat on the floor lol.

It's kind of hard to conceive of a portable food that doesn't convert to sugar though. There is SOME nutrition in oatmeal nut and peanut butter cookies, right? That's what I keep telling myself. ;)

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Specializes in Med/Surg, LTACH, LTC, Home Health.

January: New Years Day dinner

February: Valentines Day, chocolate

March: St. Patrick's' Day, green-dyed cookies, cakes, punch

April: Easter, candied and boiled eggs, parties for the kids, egg hunts

May: Mother's Day, going out to dinner, Nurses week: cheap cups with candy in them, Last day of school parties for the kids

June: Father's Day, going out to dinner

July: Fourth, cookout

August: pick a day, any day for the last cookout before the kids return to school

September: Labor, cookout

October: Halloween, trick or treat, CANDY

November: Thanksgiving dinner, cakes, pies, cobbler, Veterans Day: free food

December: Christmas dinner, cakes, pies, cookies, candy

New Years Eve parties

Toss in a few birthday parties, graduation parties, hospitalizations, births, funerals, and anniversary dinners here and there, not to mention your regular three squares a day, and you'll see that celebrating with food is the American way....aka job security for most of us since diabetics and other chronically-ill patients LOVE these celebrations more than the average person. With all that's listed above, I don't participate in food gratuities at work.

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I know and like I said , I am VERY thankful. Ive just always wondered what makes families assume caregivers love sweets. My grandma was in rehabilitation for a broken ankle and when she was discharged she gave my mom money to get the caregivers cookies and brownies. Its just a topic I wanted to get peoples thoughts on

They assume that because it happens to be true. They know that no one needs to eat sweets all the time. But it's not all the time for them. It may be their only time to bring in food, while it's your hundredth time to receive it. Junk food is typically cheaper, easier to find and transport, and doesn't spoil quickly.

Give them a break. They are just trying to be nice. If they ask your preference, sure, tell them to bring in a veggie tray or fruit basket. But if they don't, just say thanks and keep walking when the tray of donuts arrives.

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

It is a lot easier to pick up a few donuts than to find a nice fresh fruit tray. Their family member is ill. The fact that they took time out at all is super nice of them and far more than they need to do. You don't have to eat it if it doesn't jive with your personal diet. Is there irony that they bring healthcare workers unhealthy stuff? Eh. Not really. The real irony is that they bothered at all given what their family is going through.

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:blink: I guess I'm fortunate that I'm not really interested in sweet stuff; cookies, cake, pie, etc. :facepalm:

Our own hospice staff brings in sweets for our weekly IDT meetings and it is easy for me to have it pass by. However, if it were chips and homemade salsa . . . I'd be in trouble. :nailbiting:

I think people do this to be kind and to say thank you.

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