Pescatarian, Vegetarian, Vegan diets in nursing school?

direw0lf, BSN · Oct 28, 2015

I eat whatever I want and have the freshman 15 every year.

KatieMI, BSN, MSN, RN · Oct 28, 2015

You can freely follow whatever restrictions you imposed onto yourself as long as you keep it as your strictly private matter and do not bother anyone else with diatribes about reasons for doing that.

Also, keep in mind that the wast majority of hospital cafeterias generally not able to satisfactory (in the matter of food tasting good) manage "special requirement diets". It is getting better but you still may have to choose to bring whatever you want to eat from home.

chris21sn, BSN, RN · Oct 28, 2015

You can freely follow whatever restrictions you imposed onto yourself as long as you keep it as your strictly private matter and do not bother anyone else with diatribes about reasons for doing that.
Also, keep in mind that the wast majority of hospital cafeterias generally not able to satisfactory (in the matter of food tasting good) manage "special requirement diets". It is getting better but you still may have to choose to bring whatever you want to eat from home.

Haha, uhm, yeah I don't impose my diet onto anyone. It's just how I've always eaten foods....

And I must disagree when you said that hospital cafeterias cannot satisfy pescatarians and vegetarians tastes, lol. There are so many yummy fruits, salads, and yogurts in cafes! And even the more fatty foods...such as pizzas and fries, all vegetarians and pescatarians can eat those. Now, veganism diets now that might be a bit more difficult, but overrall people can definitely find something! Just my two cents haha

direw0lf, BSN · Oct 28, 2015

My brother is a strict vegan (he's dating an Indian woman who is and that's how he began) he won't eat a certain cheese if it has renin in it or eat gelatin (even though there are vegetarian geletins). He has trouble finding foods in cafeterias or buffets but I agree it's easier for those not so strict. Ex: he won't eat food fried in the same grease or pan as meat.

I think it's a good question..we learned like week 1 in nursing school about respecting everyone's diet choices. I wouldn't have known how strict vegans can be if my brother wasn't dating one.

Emergent, RN · Oct 28, 2015

Eat what you want, your school only cares about your grades and performance. Eating healthy won't hurt that.

chris21sn, BSN, RN · Oct 28, 2015

My brother is a strict vegan (he's dating an Indian woman who is and that's how he began) he won't eat a certain cheese if it has renin in it or eat gelatin (even though there are vegetarian geletins). He has trouble finding foods in cafeterias or buffets but I agree it's easier for those not so strict. Ex: he won't eat food fried in the same grease or pan as meat.
I think it's a good question..we learned like week 1 in nursing school about respecting everyone's diet choices. I wouldn't have known how strict vegans can be if my brother wasn't dating one.

Yeah, definitely, vegan diets aren't exactly my favorite diets, but it's their personal choice, so it is what it is. I do believe pescatarians and vegetarians have quite alot more choices in options though hehe, but definitely from what I've seen in my friends who are vegans, especially when we go to restaurants, eating out is a definite challenge.

NotAllThoseWhoWander · Oct 28, 2015

I was vegan for nearly a year, but since nursing school began, I've been eating junk lol. I'm trying to get back, because I felt much better before! I had hormonal issues, and eating absolutely clean did wonders for me.

By the way: I wouldn't call any of those three diets "restrictive." Because first of all, eating well is a lifestyle. And secondly, I eat more varieties of food now than I ever did when I ate meat! The typical American diet is so full of animal product, I don't think many people experience the wide variety of grains, fruits, veggies, and spices available to us.

Lorelions · Oct 29, 2015

I've been a strict vegetarian for 6 years [emoji4]. I always feel guilty about not going vegan ... But I just really love cheese ... Vegetarianism isn't particularly restrictive either because if you have to you just order pasta, salad, etc. without meat. Fun question! Good luck with school [emoji4].

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chris21sn, BSN, RN · Oct 29, 2015

I was vegan for nearly a year, but since nursing school began, I've been eating junk lol. I'm trying to get back, because I felt much better before! I had hormonal issues, and eating absolutely clean did wonders for me.
By the way: I wouldn't call any of those three diets "restrictive." Because first of all, eating well is a lifestyle. And secondly, I eat more varieties of food now than I ever did when I ate meat! The typical American diet is so full of animal product, I don't think many people experience the wide variety of grains, fruits, veggies, and spices available to us.

Haha true, sorry about that...I must agree about that "restrictive" thing you mentioned. My pescatarian diet ..is definitely more of a lifestyle change than anything. Restricive has this "limiting" negative connotation. hehe. I probably should edit that out. I understand, and totally agree that ever since I started being pescatarian awhile back, I have so much energy....which is so incredible in nursing school haha!

chris21sn, BSN, RN · Oct 29, 2015

I've been a strict vegetarian for 6 years [emoji4]. I always feel guilty about not going vegan ... But I just really love cheese ... Vegetarianism isn't particularly restrictive either because if you have to you just order pasta, salad, etc. without meat. Fun question! Good luck with school [emoji4].
Sent from my iPhone using allnurses

Agreed! I absolutely love vegetarians! So many of my friends are vegetarians, and I always have been completely awed by them! And agreed, I always feel guilty about not going vegan. I have always wanted to try being a vegetarian for awhile now but I honestly love sushi and fish too much. And, also what I love about vegetarians, like you mentioned, is how going to restaurants aren't a headache in the least bit!

BirkieGirl · Oct 29, 2015

Eat mostly plants, love it, DO NOT have any problems with the cafeteria...in the teaching facility I work in, there are hoards of residents and medical students, many of whom are other cultures, and our cafeteria works hard to meet the needs of ALL those eating there. we have a sandwich station, an All American area,pizza station, soup/bread station, and then the BEST HUGE salad bar and fruit bar you ever saw. everything is incredibly fresh. There are also tons of cooked vegetarian options at each area, making it really easy.

Much of the NP graduating class that I'm also eat very plant based. We have learned a LOT about the benefits of it in our APRN training.