Nurses with Unusual Diets

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Just curious if there are nurses also eat strange/unusual/potentially unhealthy diets on a regular basis? 

For example, here is me: 

On days off of work, my diet primarily consists of popcorn, candy, ice cream and pop.   Pop consumption typically consists of 1-2 Diet Sunkist, 1-2 Diet Root Beer and 1-2 Diet Pepsi.  Sometimes I'll eat three bowls of popcorn or one large bag in one day.  Every once in a while, I'll include some grape tomatoes, canteloupe or slices of cheddar cheese on the side, but as a whole, my diet mainly consists of treats. 

At work, I typically don't have access to loads of popcorn, but my diet is still unusual.  My pop consumption alone is enough to shock anyone:  I've been known to drink as many as 15 (yes...fifteen) Diet Pepsis in one day, along with a Diet Sunkist or 2.  I typically don't take lunch breaks but have a tendency to snack on Lay's Potato Chips, Fritos, and Reese's Peanut Butter Cups.  I usually have nothing of nutritious value at all, and end up leaving work with my resting heart rate ranging from 130s-150s and presumably (I haven't actually checked) high blood sugars.  

Anyone else engage in strange, unusual diet habits, either at home or at work? 

Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
On 1/12/2021 at 4:37 PM, SilverBells said:

Unfortunately, drinking 6-15 Diet Pepsi's every day is how I keep my body going for working 16-20 hour shifts on a daily basis.  It would be nice to feel more energized though.  Seems like I feel fatigued every day. 

You're fooling yourself if you think that that much Caffiene is helping your energy levels. Caffiene is the single most addictive substance next to nicotine that you can put in your body and it's completely unregulated. You are likely addicted to caffiene but you excuse that by saying "I need the energy!" just as and opiode addict will rationalize their use. I believe I could help you if you are willing to incorporate several dietary changes - but bear in mind that detox off caffiene is miserable. 

Let me know if you would like to try a few recipes.

Hppy

Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
On 1/13/2021 at 10:27 AM, Davey Do said:

My second wife, Akie, was a vegetarian and she got me heavily into the habit of eating vegetables. She would regularly make meat and fish dishes for me but would send me off to work with a bag of veggies.

I consulted with a nutritionist in the early '90's and he made some suggestions, one being to eat more kale. Hell, I didn't even know what kale was.

Pardon the cursing , but it sounded so poetic.

So I went out and bought me some kale and have become a daily eater of it.

I grow it in my garden, make some dishes with it, or just snack on it. I love kale! It gives me a lift that no sweet food ever did. In fact, one time I ate a whole little snack bag of M&M's and felt like crap.

Go with kale. You can't fail!

(I just now made that up.)

 

@Davey Do have you tried making Kale chips? they are pretty good not really a substitute for regular chips but they are crunchy.

Specializes in Rehab/Nurse Manager.

Update:  I had only one Pepsi today, the rest of the day I consumed water only and ate a regular lunch of a sandwich, pickles, and grape tomatoes.  I found myself to be less irritable and frustrated.  

Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
13 hours ago, SilverBells said:

Update:  I had only one Pepsi today, the rest of the day I consumed water only and ate a regular lunch of a sandwich, pickles, and grape tomatoes.  I found myself to be less irritable and frustrated.  

?

Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
On 2/3/2021 at 6:23 PM, SilverBells said:

Update:  I had only one Pepsi today, the rest of the day I consumed water only and ate a regular lunch of a sandwich, pickles, and grape tomatoes.  I found myself to be less irritable and frustrated.  

Yeah! Just cutting back on the Cafiene and sodium found in Diet soda will make a big difference. Just beware that many people report experiencing head aches and irritabilty when detoxing off Caffiene. My Gastro Doc told me that that diet soda is a huge contributing factor in IBS, UC, and Cancer of the colon. After about a month I bought a regular soda when I was out and it was so sweet I gave it to my kid. 

Your lunch sounds great! What would you normally eat for breakfast and dinner?

It's important to never let youself get hungry enough to reach for the junk food. I have a vacuum sealer and make up snack size bags of nuts, granola, and dried fruit. I make them into 2 ounce packs and throw them in my nursing bag, purse etc,  This month while I am on LOA I am playing around with spices and food prep methods. I know one shouldn't play with their food but I really have nothon better to do. I used up the rest of the Turkish spice my son mixed up and put on Chicken thighs with rice pilaf and sauteed zucchini squash. Photo to follow as I haven't plated yet. 

Hppy

 

Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
On 1/12/2021 at 3:56 PM, Tweety said:

" vegan chicken nuggets" 

What is this strange food you speak of?

Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.
On 2/16/2021 at 9:07 PM, hppygr8ful said:

What is this strange food you speak of?

These

https://www.morningstarfarms.com/en_US/products/veggitizers/morningstar-farms-buffalo-wings-product.html?utm_source=Google&utm_medium=search&utm_campaign=MSF|Google|Search|Brand|Veggie+Classics|BMM|2020&gclid=CjwKCAiAmrOBBhA0EiwArn3mfAf5Tv0S5jN8byLqRywTiuaiq2bY8G5AJll-J3Qhacwn2zPbaqP-ghoCCbwQAvD_BwE

 

They aren't all that and hardly worth a splurge but convenient and quick.  I'm a pretty healthy eater usually eating whole foods plant based and not a lot of processed foods generally.

 

Specializes in Rehab/Nurse Manager.

I drank at least 30 Diet Pepsi's this week but might have been as many as 45 

Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
3 hours ago, SilverBells said:

I drank at least 30 Diet Pepsi's this week but might have been as many as 45 

Girl you are gonna kill your gut. I had 18 inches of my colon removed in 2012 due to severe necrosis. I was getting septic all the time and they finally looked at my gut. My gastro Doc basically told me that artificial sweeteners are like steel wool to the walls of your colon. So even though I am diabetic I do not consume any artificial sweeteners. 

I do drink a fair amount of green sweetened with fruit and raw honey and would be happy to give you the recipe. I try to drink about a half gallon of water a day. Being properly hydrated inproves your mental function and mood.

Hppy

 

Specializes in NICU.

When I had a health issue the doc said to stop caffeine, I told him I needed to stay awake as I worked night shift, he then said drink orange juice, and guess what it worked well for me.I also switched to coffee substitutes like Postum , etc,. (they recently brought it back).

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