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.

Be grateful that you get anything at all. Enough said.

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

Edible gifts are usually confined to the holiday season where I've worked. I am one who believes if you are too strict with yourself on diet choices, (assuming your risk isn't higher due to a pre-existing medical condition) the resulting stress from declining the fudge is worse than the calories. That's my rationalization and I'm sticking to it!

As it happens it's usually an older, familiar patient who is proud of their special recipe. I wouldn't ask them to bring a veggie tray next time. Maybe I'm showing my fossil status with that, but the quality of OTC snack cakes has really declined over the years.

Great topic idea guycna95!

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
Our potluck folks bring homemade food - crockpots and casseroles etc.[/quote']You have a salient point. Nonetheless, the workplace dynamics may or may not be divergent since you live in a deeply rural area where home-cooking might be more prevalent.

I live and work in a city of nearly 1 million people. In any given pot luck lunch or dinner, roughly half of the food offerings are store-bought items.

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I'm not sure I've ever seen junk as a gift from family members, but family members bring THEIR family members (my residents) junk all the time. And there is frequently junk available, whether it's ice cream or cake or somebody is bringing in enchilada plates (ok, that's not necessarily 'junk' to me :^) ... so as a consequence, I tend to eat worse at work than I do at home.

Sometimes I can't decide if family members who bring 'their people' junk are a) totally ignorant on nutrition, or b) feel like 'let them have whatever they want, they're already in a LTC facility', or some other factor.

A lot of times it's simply the thought of "comfort food," and yeah, putting a 90 year old on a "diet" seems kind of silly unless it's some kind of crisis.

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Specializes in ambulant care.

Hhhhmmmm......

I think, that family members are able to see, under what conditions we work.

Sugar is a careproduct for overwrought nervs. So they take "care to the care".

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Specializes in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology.
but they got to know we don't live off of cupcakes.

:eek: You mean you don't?!?!

I also find that there is too much bad food spread around but, dammit, there are some weeks, months, years where a cupcake-a-day sometimes is the only thing getting me through it all. :roflmao:

Actually, one patient's parent made us ahi poke and some kind of wonderful shrimp thing -- that was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G.

Food, wonderful FOOD!!!!!

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Carbs are cheap and easy. There is nothing comparable. Cheeses, insoles, etc. are all exponentially more expensive. Fruit that is in season is a good option.

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Thank you! It's just a topic I wanted to talk about. I mean my god. I feel I've said I appreciate it a thousand times when they bring us stuff. I just wanted to see what other thought about. 50% just negative or rude feedback. My goodness guys, lighten up. But I appreciate the feedback anyway. Haha thanks guys.

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