Hot Cheetos are a public health menace

Nurses General Nursing

Published

I had a woman come in for abdominal pain the other day. She accompanied by a husband and 3 small children. I walked into the room after reading the triage note in the computer.

There she was, a woman who had the appearance of someone with unhealthy eating habits. On the gurney was a large, opened bag of hot Cheetos. The family came prepared! The only thing missing was the 20 oz bottle of Pepsi.

Naturally she got a the huge workup, and by all appearances, I'm guessing it was a taxpayer funded one. And while I'm on that subject , why in the world are items like hot Cheetos allowable under the federal food stamp program? Oh, multinational corporation lobbyists of course.

Specializes in ED, psych.
"Unfortunately here your observations are subject to your implicit bias: those with means want to assume that those without means are without means due to their own bad decisions."

Implicit bias? Not sure where you got that from. I don't think that those without means are in that situation due to their own bad decisions. My upbringing, education, and life experience prevents me from thinking that way, There is a lot of blame to be spread for the condition of poor people in this country, but the last place I would lay that blame is on the poor. As you acknowledged, many are "building of generation on generation of less healthy choices." (But I don't think that was your inherent bias, just acknowledging bad choices having bad effects.)

But, rice and beans at home is cheaper than McDonalds, and carrots are cheaper and healthier than Cheetos- that is just a mathematical fact.

There are some low income populations in this country that do eat inexpensive reasonably healthy food, prepared at home. In my observation, they tend to be new immigrants, being fed by people raised in other countries. Many face the same challenges of obtaining real food, but make different choices.

But there are other factors that come into play.

There's also a common theme.

They're EXHAUSTED.

My family was of the "working poor" when I was much, much younger. My dad worked two jobs and then another third shift on the weekend; my mom worked a job and then did other side jobs to try to make ends meet. No day care as I was a latch key kid ... at 7 years old (different age).

Yes, we had rice and beans. My dad packed his lunch, but there were occasional McDonald trips (they're very filling) - he was gone 18-20 out of 24 hours a day sometimes.

.... and there is your snapshot.

Cigarettes and caffeine for him were a necessity because they kept him moving.

... another snapshot.

My mom used coupons - coupons save money on ... $1 for 10 cans of chef boy r dee. $5 for 3 frozen pizzas. She also was working ... a lot.

Not many coupons for fresh fruits and veggies. And they go bad much more quickly.

My parents were exhausted. All the time. They worked all the time to get us off food stamps, to get us out of a bad neighborhood ... and they did. But it came at the expense of decent home cooked meals ... because they were exhausted. And that's ok.

At my young age I didn't know I was being judged. Reading the reactions on this thread, my parents sure knew they were.

(They made up for it when we "made it" .. my mom was a really good cook ... and I realize how lucky my parents were to break the cycle; my grandparents were still working poor when they passed away)

So do I get a little frustrated with threads like this and "ha ha, look at these sour faces ... these SJW's har har!" Yeah. I get that hot Cheetos and abdominal work ups are eye roll worthy.

But the rest?

As nurses ... I find some of the comments on this thread appalling, insensitive, and highly misinformed. And I just can't read it anymore, I am that disgusted...

Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

I am the last person anyone would consider a SJW. In fact, it's laughable. I support conservative principles and values, which include making people responsible for their own actions. What bothered me about the original post, as well as a "clarification" post several pages in, is that the OP ASSUMED the patient in question was on Medicaid and food stamps. (We all know what ASSUME means.) I'm sorry, but my values also are such that I try not to judge people based only on their appearance and behavior. I've been on Medicaid and food stamps before, and I hate to think that I too have been judged that way. If you don't know for sure that a person is, indeed, on public assistance, what gives you the right to ASSUME they are? And even if they are, so what? You are paid to take care of people, even the ones who do abuse the system. 'Nuff said.

Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

My indicators when I was a kid as to how we were doing financially: did my mom buy real cheese, or was it Velveeta that week? We had some simple dinners, like "weenie beanie" and my favorite, open-faced cheese sandwiches, warmed under the broiler until the cheese was all melty. It's very interesting to look back on these things and realize that my parents were struggling a bit, but I felt safe and loved and fed.

That was a great show!

It seems someone took issue with my pointing out that the obesity epidemic is growing. Not sure how you can get upset over that unless you just want to deny reality.

So the post was deleted by a mod/admin.

It really sounds like you need to get away from treating sick people. Reminds me of burned out teachers that get all pissy and cynical and start to dislike the kids. They usually become some sort of half-assed administrator. You would probably be a lot happier if you didn't have to deal with needy/whiny/silly patients, huh?

Regarding #4, you realize that a trip to the ED fills some people with concern/worry/dread and they probably don't have the education to realize that it's not that big of a deal. He probably couldn't afford a baby sitter or didn't think he had time to wait for one. The only thing wrong with the picture is your judgmental attitude and lack of any sort of understanding.

Sounds like you should transition away from direct care. Not only will you be more happy, I suspect others will, too.

P.S. I'm part of the "no copay segment" too! As a military spouse, Tricare covers everything. I don't pay a dime.

Specializes in Public Health, TB.
But there are other factors that come into play.

There's also a common theme.

They're EXHAUSTED.

My family was of the "working poor" when I was much, much younger. My dad worked two jobs and then another third shift on the weekend; my mom worked a job and then did other side jobs to try to make ends meet. No day care as I was a latch key kid ... at 7 years old (different age).

Yes, we had rice and beans. My dad packed his lunch, but there were occasional McDonald trips (they're very filling) - he was gone 18-20 out of 24 hours a day sometimes.

.... and there is your snapshot.

Cigarettes and caffeine for him were a necessity because they kept him moving.

... another snapshot.

My mom used coupons - coupons save money on ... $1 for 10 cans of chef boy r dee. $5 for 3 frozen pizzas. She also was working ... a lot.

Not many coupons for fresh fruits and veggies. And they go bad much more quickly.

My parents were exhausted. All the time. They worked all the time to get us off food stamps, to get us out of a bad neighborhood ... and they did. But it came at the expense of decent home cooked meals ... because they were exhausted. And that's ok.

At my young age I didn't know I was being judged. Reading the reactions on this thread, my parents sure knew they were.

(They made up for it when we "made it" .. my mom was a really good cook ... and I realize how lucky my parents were to break the cycle; my grandparents were still working poor when they passed away)

So do I get a little frustrated with threads like this and "ha ha, look at these sour faces ... these SJW's har har!" Yeah. I get that hot Cheetos and abdominal work ups are eye roll worthy.

But the rest?

As nurses ... I find some of the comments on this thread appalling, insensitive, and highly misinformed. And I just can't read it anymore, I am that disgusted...

This is one of the best posts I have read in a long time. Thank you for sharing.

Specializes in Public Health, TB.

On a mildly related note, my health department operates a needle exchange for injection drug users, and I am occasionally asked to do a wound assessment. I have seen some super gnarly wounds that I have strongly recommended being seen asap in an ED because of concerns about sepsis. And I have never had anyone agree. The thought of being treated at the ED is worse than the possibility of a life-threatening infection. And this is because of the way they are treated.

Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
It seems someone took issue with my pointing out that the obesity epidemic is growing. Not sure how you can get upset over that unless you just want to deny reality.

So the post was deleted by a mod/admin.

Huh? This one? https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-discussion/hot-cheetos-are-1174264-page3.html#post9939452

Still there...

I admitted a patient to ICU for a hot fritos overdose. She burned a hole in her stomach. As I recall, she survived after intense treatment.

I admitted a patient to ICU for a hot fritos overdose. She burned a hole in her stomach. As I recall, she survived after intense treatment.

If Fritos can actually burn "a hole" in a stomach, they need to come with a warning label!

I never heard of the products being discussed until this thread.

Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).

4) What is it about our current culture that requires the husband to stay for several hours with his wife, with 3 children under 7, watching cartoons and eating Hot Cheetos? She wasn't circling the drain or anything. The kids were very nice, by the way, the older 2 got a fun trip to the sticker drawer, but, what is wrong with this picture?

This I do agree with. Last saterday I was in the ER for 16 hours. After I was taken back from the waiting room. Once it became clear that I wasn't going to die and wouldn't be leaving anytime soon I sent my husband home to take care of our son. I had my kindle and phone and He came back about an hour before I was rekeased.

Hppy

Specializes in LTC.

Welcome to 'murica!

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