Veganism and the pursue of nursing

elkpark · Jan 21, 2015

I actually became nauseated at this....yuck! Glad she figured out what nutrition is :)
Yes it is certainly possible to have all nutritional needs met through vegetarianism/veganism. Thing is, I find that most who tell me they follow these kinds of diets really don't do what they should to achieve that goal. Simply eating veggies and fruit and refraining from meats doesn't a balanced diet make. The worst, I think, are the teens who latch onto this for a variety of reasons but have a common theme: eat no meats, so consider themselves "vegetarians", but don't eat a healthy balance.
Me, I like a good steak, but I wouldn't try to convince someone who doesn't to follow my diet plan. And I prefer that the courtesy go both ways! :)

Back when I was working inpatient adolescent psych, I couldn't tell you the number of teens I encountered who announced proudly (and condescendingly) that they were vegetarians. They considered "vegetarian" to mean "living on French fries." We spent a lot of time educating them about healthy vegetarian diets, and many of them decided that, if they had to eat all that healthy food that didn't interest them (not French fries), they might as well just go back to eating meat. :)

Fruit Sucker · Jan 21, 2015

many of them decided that, if they had to eat all that healthy food that didn't interest them (not French fries), they might as well just go back to eating meat. :)

That doesn't sound like someone who has made the decision to eat compassionately and ethically. If this is the only example of vegans you've met, you must not have been exposed to many.

There seems to be a misconception on this thread that vegans are usually teenagers who eat junk food. I'm not sure why that is, but it's not accurate. And it's one of the problems the OP was talking about potentially having to deal with.

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Jan 21, 2015

That doesn't sound like someone who has made the decision to eat compassionately and ethically. If this is the only example of vegans you've met, you must not have been exposed to many.
There seems to be a misconception on this thread that vegans are usually teenagers who eat junk food. I'm not sure why that is, but it's not accurate. And it's one of the problems the OP was talking about potentially having to deal with.

No. The discussion is the lack of nutrition education for teenagers electing to self declare as vegetarians. These teens don't have the knowledge to comprehend that french fries and buttery grilled cheese every day is not a healthy diet. My sister made the same mistake. It was an educated nurse in our pediatrician's office that took the time to put my sister in the right direction when her routine labs came back atrocious. The nurse's short education talk (RD sessions not always covered by insurance) kicked my sister in the right direction to do proper research. This is not saying that all vegetarians are teens but that an educated nurse (vegan, vegetarian or not) has many opportunities to provide accurate education and information to misguided souls who don't understand that eating french fries daily does not equal adequate nutrition for growing teens.

One of my favorite resources is the Vegetarian Resource Group (The Vegetarian Resource Group (VRG)) that has teen, young adult, and beginning veg information and resources as well as internship & scholarship opportunities for vegetarian students.

In nursing school my clinical instructor had a daughter who was interested in vegetarian or vegan and I gave her some of my resources on starting out vegetarian, vegetarian student and the vrg and saw how a strong nutrition understanding could make a difference. I saw my instructor while working a few months ago, she was excited to tell me her daughter is now a healthy vegetarian college student.

In summary there are opportunities to educate others when warranted

Fruit Sucker · Jan 21, 2015

In summary there are opportunities to educate others when warranted

Agreed. Unfortunately, it often happens when not warranted, and by those who don't have a good understanding of nutrition. I can see that you are not one of those people, and I respect your supporting those with the intention to start on a plant-based diet.

For what it's worth, there are more and more resources popping up for vegans and vegetarians, so that people new to it can start out with better examples than greasy fries. I'm a fan of Brendan Brazier's website, and some of the other plant-based athletes' sites. And meat substitutes are becoming so mainstream now that one can find things besides just gross veggie burgers at the regular supermarket. Back when I started, all we had was watery rice milk and tofu.

softrbreeze · Jan 21, 2015

Back when I was working inpatient adolescent psych, I couldn't tell you the number of teens I encountered who announced proudly (and condescendingly) that they were vegetarians. They considered "vegetarian" to mean "living on French fries." We spent a lot of time educating them about healthy vegetarian diets, and many of them decided that, if they had to eat all that healthy food that didn't interest them (not French fries), they might as well just go back to eating meat. :)

It took me 3 or 4 false starts before I was finally able to convert at the age of 41. Any major lifestyle change is usually a process. Most smokers don't quit overnight. Nor do gamblers, drug addicts, etc. My first few attempts at vegetarianism lasted no more than 3 or 4 mos because I was attempting to eat the same way I had always eaten minus the meat. After a few months of abuse, my body was ready to call it quits. Maturity and education have taken care of the rest. Eating our veggies and even fruits, for some of us at least, is something of an endeavor. It's quite possible these teens will try again, hopefully with a larger baseline knowledge of what is required for them to succeed.

elkpark · Jan 21, 2015

That doesn't sound like someone who has made the decision to eat compassionately and ethically. If this is the only example of vegans you've met, you must not have been exposed to many.
There seems to be a misconception on this thread that vegans are usually teenagers who eat junk food. I'm not sure why that is, but it's not accurate. And it's one of the problems the OP was talking about potentially having to deal with.

Did I say anything to suggest that the teens I mentioned are "the only example of vegans (I've) met"? They were claiming to be vegetarian, not vegan (they didn't know enough to claim to be vegans and, yes, big surprise!!!!! I know the difference!) I have had friends and colleagues over the years who have been all the different varieties of vegetarians, including vegans. I was responding to the comment about teens thinking being a vegetarian means eating French fries and grilled cheese sandwiches because it brought back humorous memories.

I don't think there are any "misconceptions" on the thread -- I think we're just not caught up in being nutritional "true believers." I will bow out now, since I'm not interested in getting condescended to any further.

MeiLana · Jan 22, 2015

I toy with veganism -- I'm still on my journey to get there. I follow the writings of Ginny Messina who is a registered dietician and vegan, and has written about the myths of soy, the current thought on "complete proteins", things like where B12 can be gotten in plant sources (Sources of B12 for Vegans), etc. Also, I'm interested in the writings and research by Fuhrman, Essylsten and others.

As for veganism in nursing -- I don't discuss it. One good round with a clinical instructor over plant sources of B12 was enough to teach me to shut up. I don't offer nutritional advice (you certainly should not be doing so, OP) and in general, my table-mates might ask what it is I'm eating but usually they don't. Another interesting point is that I'm overweight, so if anyone notices my plate, they just assume I'm trying to lose weight (I am, but that's not the bottom line here).

If you keep it to yourself, people will generally leave you alone. If you challenge what others are eating or assume an air of superiority, well... you're asking for it, because this is still a herd/flock/group o' humans you're working in and you will be the one that gets pecked.

marisa-e9518 · Jan 22, 2015

While your dietary choices won't impact your ability to do your job, I do know that many drugs are tested on animals and may contain animal products. If this is something that would seriously impact your ability to treat a patient, then I would reconsider your occupation.

I would also like to add that many vegans and strong animal activists wouldn't be opposed to being treated with drugs that had previously been tested on animals if it was a matter of life and death, or even the difference between a few days/weeks of discomfort and pain and a few days. As a vegan, you have to be a bit open to the idea that this medication wouldn't be prescribed unless it was necessary and be accepting of the fact that no one can ever be a "perfect" vegan or vegetarian.

Fruit Sucker · Jan 22, 2015

You might like "Ask a Vegan Dietician" on Facebook. Thanks for sharing the links. I'm very interested in the plant-based sources of B12.

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Jan 22, 2015

And if you want to give out dietary advice that nobody asked for, I suggest you start a thread about that and see how many people are interested. Because nobody on THIS thread so far is interested in your condescending opinions about vegans' nutritional shortcomings and what they should and shouldn't be doing.

You are so out of line it isn't funny. I gave out NO dietary advice, zilch. I only repeated a couple of FACTS I learned the other day, I didn't advise anyone to eat or not eat ANYTHING. So you are wrong there.

I offered no "condescending opinions", I simply made a comment, one of many made on this thread, and never once dismissed anyone's dietary lifestyle as invalid; I SAID that many do state they follow a vegetarian lifestyle but don't understand what that is. And that IS TRUE, whether you like it or not.

This isn't about YOU. It's a discussion, and not one that you seem willing to engage in without turning on 'attack mode'.

We're done now, I think.

Nursegolightly8 · Jan 22, 2015

As a soon-to-be second career nurse (in my 30s) and *mostly* vegan, I can echo what everyone else seems to be saying here. Shouldn't affect your career in the least. Now if you were an aspiring chef whose goal is to work in a 5 star French restaurant, I'd say perhaps.

In many of my clinical rotations, I've introduced some of my colleagues to some of the more palatable vegan recipes I make. They seemed to love this one:

Mexican Hot Chocolate Snickerdoodles | Post Punk Kitchen | Vegan Baking & Vegan Cooking

The whole batch was gone by mid-shift.

Nursegolightly8 · Jan 22, 2015

Ooh, I want to read more Essylsten...in the midst of The China Study, which is one of several non-study related books I mean to return to. I'd watched Forks over Knives a few years ago.

I agree with you. I don't try to 'convert' anyone, but if my peers are interested & ask me what I brought for lunch, I'll tell them. Friends and colleagues have been very supportive; I think in part, because they know I'm not a militant veg... it just works for me and a choice I made for myself.

Interestingly, I've had more omnivore friends become interested in vegetarianism/veganism from seeing my FB pics (yeah, I'm that person) when I've made a new dish from Post Punk Kitchen/Thug Kitchen/Lunchbox Bunch. Which is kinda cool.