Healthiest way to eat during a busy gen surg residency

[Knightmd]

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Hello, well-brought-up healthy residents....

So when you're running around between cases, from one floor to the other, taking call, and being called to the OR... how do you maintain a healthy diet?

How do you find time to grab breakfast before leaving home, and how do you not succumb to easy-to-grab junk food?

I've seen some residents walk around with an apple and nab at it during meetings... But the majority just fall victim to the pizza-soda-fast-food diet...

So, lemme know how you maintain your healthy diet, that keeps you going on through the day.....

 

[anonperson]

Hello, well-brought-up healthy residents....

So when you're running around between cases, from one floor to the other, taking call, and being called to the OR... how do you maintain a healthy diet?

How do you find time to grab breakfast before leaving home, and how do you not succumb to easy-to-grab junk food?

I've seen some residents walk around with an apple and nab at it during meetings... But the majority just fall victim to the pizza-soda-fast-food diet...

So, lemme know how you maintain your healthy diet, that keeps you going on through the day.....

Cut out the sodas. It's empty calories. Drink plenty of water.

You just have to make an actual effort to avoid crappy food. Comes down to self control.

I also try to take the stairs everywhere.

 

[QofQuimica]

Agree with anon that you have to make a conscious effort to avoid eating the fast food diet. I bring my own food most days and sometimes have a protein shake or bar rather than eating an actual meal. It's easy to stick either one in your white coat pocket, and it just takes a few minutes to eat/drink it. Do it while you're charting, and it won't slow you down at all.

 

[atsai3]

Hello, well-brought-up healthy residents....

So when you're running around between cases, from one floor to the other, taking call, and being called to the OR... how do you maintain a healthy diet?

How do you find time to grab breakfast before leaving home, and how do you not succumb to easy-to-grab junk food?

I've seen some residents walk around with an apple and nab at it during meetings... But the majority just fall victim to the pizza-soda-fast-food diet...

So, lemme know how you maintain your healthy diet, that keeps you going on through the day.....

In terms of getting food during the day, you could try to keep some healthy Kashi bars and almond packets in your pocket.

 

[Law2Doc]

Cut out the sodas. It's empty calories. Drink plenty of water.

You just have to make an actual effort to avoid crappy food. Comes down to self control.

I also try to take the stairs everywhere.

Careful with the "plenty of water" in surgery. Many folks like to keep closer to the dry side because you don't often get bathroom breaks in the OR.

There isn't really anything prohibiting you from planning ahead and stowing healthy food someplace. People eat the crap because it is convenient and often free, but just because they stock the residents lounge with pretzels and Oreos and just because the fast food places are the only things open when you get a meal break late at night doesn't mean you have to make a meal of that.

 

[danzman]

Kept 2 Pb&Js in my inner pocket at all times. Many days that is all I got. I am a pretty fit 175lbs but I lost 10 solid pounds that month. It was brutal.

 

[anonperson]

Careful with the "plenty of water" in surgery. Many folks like to keep closer to the dry side because you don't often get bathroom breaks in the OR.

There isn't really anything prohibiting you from planning ahead and stowing healthy food someplace. People eat the crap because it is convenient and often free, but just because they stock the residents lounge with pretzels and Oreos and just because the fast food places are the only things open when you get a meal break late at night doesn't mean you have to make a meal of that.

True about keeping dry. I've seen a few residents nearly pass out though in the OR because they were too dry.

 

[Mattchiavelli]

Find a granola bar you like and buy it in bulk- always have one or two on you. Check ingredients, some are a ton of sugar/HFCs but the fact that there is fiber involved helps it stick with you a little longer.

Contrary to popular belief, there are some healthier options if you have to do fast food, start by holding all cheese and mayo, ditch the fries for a side salad, try to go grilled over fried with chicken. Sodium will still be on the higher side but it's amazing how much in fat/cals you can knock out by just not smothering everything in cheese (this also goes for pizza, cheeseless with veggies is actually pretty decent).

 

[Buzz Me]

True about keeping dry. I've seen a few residents nearly pass out though in the OR because they were too dry.

Often that, plus a combination of skipped breakfast, locked knees, sleep deprivation and a hot OR.

 

[45408]

True about keeping dry. I've seen a few residents nearly pass out though in the OR because they were too dry.

Milk is your friend. Fat + protein = endurance

Mountain Dew will work through my system in 1 hour. The same amount of milk keeps me going for 6-8.

Often that, plus a combination of skipped breakfast, locked knees, sleep deprivation and a hot OR.

Ugh, it's the hot OR that kills me.

 

[Margo]

Hello, well-brought-up healthy residents....

So when you're running around between cases, from one floor to the other, taking call, and being called to the OR... how do you maintain a healthy diet?

How do you find time to grab breakfast before leaving home, and how do you not succumb to easy-to-grab junk food?

I've seen some residents walk around with an apple and nab at it during meetings... But the majority just fall victim to the pizza-soda-fast-food diet...

So, lemme know how you maintain your healthy diet, that keeps you going on through the day.....

I found that when I am busy I am less hungry.... kind of forget about and end up skipping lunch or dinner. My favorite "on the go" meal in a bottle are protein zone Naked brand juice smoothies, or Odwalla protein smoothies. Both organic, have soy protein + lots of fruit, quite filling and useful when there is really no time to eat. String cheese is also good, as well as Nature Valley bars.

 

[PharmaTope]

Hello, well-brought-up healthy residents....

So when you're running around between cases, from one floor to the other, taking call, and being called to the OR... how do you maintain a healthy diet?

How do you find time to grab breakfast before leaving home, and how do you not succumb to easy-to-grab junk food?

I've seen some residents walk around with an apple and nab at it during meetings... But the majority just fall victim to the pizza-soda-fast-food diet...

So, lemme know how you maintain your healthy diet, that keeps you going on through the day.....

drug reps bring in food like chicken covered in some bull****. scrape all that crap off the chicken and eat the chicken plain.

next, if you need cals, i suggest getting RTD protein drinks. I would also suggest keeping oats in the hospital. they are easy to transport. i would grind them up in a coffee grinder into a fine powder.

pick up some protein & oats supplement. put in plastic baggies, keep in white coat. never know when u could use some.

morning do oats and banana so you have steady carb supply during the day.

almonds in plastic baggie are good as well, just dont go overboard with the fats. i would also walk down the cafeteria when i had time and just do 2 TBS of olive oil and wash it down with some water. i time my food. carbs in and before hospital to have energy. fats etc at night or ending the day.

beef jerky is another great protein source you can carry in your white coat as well.

Meal replacement powders are your friend.

 

[SouthernSurgeon]

Trust that when you are that busy, as long as you eat within reason, calories in will be less than calories out while you are in the hospital.

 

[Dirt]

Ugh, it's the hot OR that kills me.

I swear when I am an attending my OR thermostat will be set at 50.

 

[Law2Doc]

Trust that when you are that busy, as long as you eat within reason, calories in will be less than calories out while you are in the hospital.

Nah, It ends up being a feast and famine situation -- you will miss dinner running around the hospital, and then when you are finally able to eat, say at 2am, and are starving, the only food options are candy machines, free chips in the residents lounge, or maybe ordering in some pizza. So if you don't plan ahead with your own food, you can easily suck down 10000 calories in one sitting. And it's late night eating, which is the hardest on your metabolism.

 

[chocomorsel]

I swear when I am an attending my OR thermostat will be set at 50.

Sorry, but it isn't about you. It's about the patient. If the patient is cold then people around you aren't gonna let you keep the temp at 50. Good luck with that.

 

[Law2Doc]

Sorry, but it isn't about you. It's about the patient. If the patient is cold then people around you aren't gonna let you keep the temp at 50. Good luck with that.

You can work around this with bare hugger warmers etc.

 

[Dirt]

Sorry, but it isn't about you. It's about the patient. If the patient is cold then people around you aren't gonna let you keep the temp at 50. Good luck with that.

I suppose I will make an exception on whipples, burn victims and kids...

 

[dpmd]

Careful with the "plenty of water" in surgery. Many folks like to keep closer to the dry side because you don't often get bathroom breaks in the OR.

I drink plenty of water, but it is all about timing. Right before a long case is not the time to be guzzling a ton, but the rest of the day I keep a bottle of water in my back pocket (looks terrible if the scrubs are a little too tight but whatever). I wonder if surgeons bladders tend to be larger than other types of physicians?

Agree that keeping healthy stuff on you is the way to go unless your hospital does a better job of having good food available than most.

 

[Winged Scapula]

I drink plenty of water, but it is all about timing. Right before a long case is not the time to be guzzling a ton, but the rest of the day I keep a bottle of water in my back pocket (looks terrible if the scrubs are a little too tight but whatever). I wonder if surgeons bladders tend to be larger than other types of physicians?

Actually stress incontinence is common amongst surgeons and others who stand for long periods of time without urinating (and who "train" themselves to go frequently - "pee when you can").

 

[Law2Doc]

...I wonder if surgeons bladders tend to be larger than other types of physicians?

....

I don't know if you can stretch out your bladder the way you can your stomach from periods of overdistension.

 

[2012mdc]

I found that when I am busy I am less hungry.... kind of forget about and end up skipping lunch or dinner. My favorite "on the go" meal in a bottle are protein zone Naked brand juice smoothies, or Odwalla protein smoothies. Both organic, have soy protein + lots of fruit, quite filling and useful when there is really no time to eat. String cheese is also good, as well as Nature Valley bars.

big fan of those naked juices but they do get pricey.

 

[45408]

Sorry, but it isn't about you. It's about the patient. If the patient is cold then people around you aren't gonna let you keep the temp at 50. Good luck with that.

You're in anesthesia, I assume.

It is about the patient, but I'm not going to be thinking about the patient when the sweat is running down the back of my leg. Put on a Bair hugger, humidify the O2, use an IVF warmer, and put blankets on the patient.

I don't know if you can stretch out your bladder the way you can your stomach from periods of overdistension.

Most cases are really not that long.

 

[morbo]

Plan ahead. It's very easy to get hungry and desperate and eat the wrong thing.

By preparing and planning your meals when you aren't hungry, you are in a better state of mind to make good decisions and not say "aw screw it" and eat a hamburger.

 

[OMMFan]

I ate healthy food throughout internship with just a little bit of planning and prep time. I did not gain any weight and at times actually lost weight as time to eat my food was scarce.

My mainstay was a morning smoothie that included nutrient-rich fruits, vegetables, and usually a nut or seed for some omega-3 fatty acids and gastric staying power. This concoction saved my life & gave me a lot of energy during PGY1 -- kept me full 'til 2 pm or so.

I frequently ate eggs +/- toast in the morning along with some veggies: fresh is great but for ease of preparation, thawed/heated frozen spinach or broccoli and/or a few tablespoons of chopped tomatoes work well. Add a spoonful of goat cheese for extra flavor. You can make eggs and toast in 3 minutes, 5 minutes if you add veggies (not including cleanup). I used to put it all in a big bowl and eat in in the car during my commute -- if you do this then I recommend identifying a way to keep the bowl from sliding off your passenger seat during heavy braking.

A PB & apple (or banana) sandwich on whole or sprouted grain bread keeps well and fits very well in a whitecoat pocket. Tastes like heaven when you're hungry and can double as a light dinner during call. Trader Joe's organic peanut butter the tastiest I've found -- I prefer the salted version.

Hard boiled eggs (in a bag) are good pocket food if you don't have time for morning eggs. I like to cover eggs with water, bring to a boil, turn off the flame, then leave the pot covered for 7-13 minutes depending on how soft or dry I want the yolks.

Baked sweet potatoes keep well and are both tasty and filling. Bake several days' worth and store in the refrigerator. Ok to keep bagged in your pocket for several hours.

Raw unsalted almonds +/- dried fruit are satisfying and compact for pockets. Takes some time to reach your satiety center but if you're on the go and have no time to eat this doesn't matter much.

Crisp apples are a godsend -- I prefer the organic Gala apples as they are usually very crispy and water-rich. Best if you can cut and then store in the fridge until close to eating time or they don't maintain their crispness quite as well.

If you have time and a place to prep food at work you can scoop half an avocado onto toast with a little salt and pepper for a quick meal.

If you can store food at work try adding half an avocado to a can of black beans and top with salt and Trader Joe's Salsa Authentica (sp?). Filling and tastes really good. Adding brown rice makes it even more filling. Also good tho' a little less healthy with corn chips (again, the natural kind from Trader Joe's). Best to throw the avocado in when you're ready to eat or at least scoop out the entire half with a spoon and then mash only when it's time to eat.

I keep cereal, raisins, and almond milk at work now for days I don't have time to pack a good lunch.

A tub of hummus and Trader Joe's rice crackers makes a surprisingly decent processed food meal. You can also spread hummus on whole grain/sprouted bread or a tortilla. Bonus points if you throw in some bagged spinach, lettuce, and/or cherry tomato halves.

Whole Foods generally has some decent options in the prepared foods sections if you're willing to pay a little more and buy a few days' worth of bring-along food at once.

 

[Knightmd]

That was one mighty helpful post, OMMFan. Great ideas; loved the sweet baked potatoes and crisp apples one in particular...