Rotation Food Porn

[Mad Jack]

I figured I'd make a thread to celebrate the food we get on rotations, and to also discuss the quality thereof, as well as a place to share tips and tricks for people that are new on the wards and in the OR to not starve to death.

Saltines and peanut butter. It doesn't sound exciting, but I'm telling you, after 8 hours in surgery with no food, it is amazing. Add in some Lipton tea to get you a fast caffeine fix, and you've got enough calories and stimulant on board to get you through the rest of that sixth laparoscopic cholecystectomy. And the seventh. And the eighth...

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[NWwildcat2013]

That is no way to live. Glad Im not doing surgery.

 

[mimelim]

That is no way to live. Glad Im not doing surgery.

Thankfully, anyone who actually plans ahead does not subsist on anything remotely like that.

 

[mcworbust]

5 bars in L inner pocket, 5 bars in R inner pocket, hang up white coat and use as lunchbox lol

 

[Crayola227]

Thankfully, anyone who actually plans ahead does not subsist on anything remotely like that.

I don't know where you get that idea, because I remember harfing this down with the attendings and residents, because lockers with actual packed lunches (planning right there) or the cafeteria were further away than what we had time to go fetch and eat. Crackers and peanut butter were closer and eaten fast.

It partly depends on how busy where you are is.

 

[OnePunchBiopsy]

Peanut Butter + Graham Crackers (and an 8oz can of Shasta Cola if they restocked the fridge)

Also, don't mix up the PB with the almost-identical package of pancake syrup (rookie mistake)

 

[Mad Jack]

Thankfully, anyone who actually plans ahead does not subsist on anything remotely like that.

It was supposed to be a short day, everything went wrong

 

[Mad Jack]

I don't know where you get that idea, because I remember harfing this down with the attendings and residents, because lockers with actual packed lunches (planning right there) or the cafeteria were further away than what we had time to go fetch and eat. Crackers and peanut butter were closer and eaten fast.

It partly depends on how busy where you are is.

Even the attendings that have been here 35+ years still him on the crackers and peanut butter between cases. It's the ultimate equalizer.

 

[mimelim]

I don't know where you get that idea, because I remember harfing this down with the attendings and residents, because lockers with actual packed lunches (planning right there) or the cafeteria were further away than what we had time to go fetch and eat. Crackers and peanut butter were closer and eaten fast.

It partly depends on how busy where you are is.

I don't get it. What does residents and attendings doing it mean that planning gets you out of this 99% of the time? There are terrible residents and attendings. If you are doing this on a regular or semi-regular basis, you are doing it wrong. If you have access to where the dry food is for patients, you have access to areas to store other foods. If you can't predict when you will need other foods, you should always have other foods available. It isn't terribly difficult to appreciate, but it is not uncommon for students, residents and attendings to be incredibly poor organizers and planners. I certainly won't get into a pissing contest about volume, but it is laughable to think that this has much of anything to do with how "busy" things are or seem.

 

[Mad Jack]

I don't get it. What does residents and attendings doing it mean that planning gets you out of this 99% of the time? There are terrible residents and attendings. If you are doing this on a regular or semi-regular basis, you are doing it wrong. If you have access to where the dry food is for patients, you have access to areas to store other foods. If you can't predict when you will need other foods, you should always have other foods available. It isn't terribly difficult to appreciate, but it is not uncommon for students, residents and attendings to be incredibly poor organizers and planners. I certainly won't get into a pissing contest about volume, but it is laughable to think that this has much of anything to do with how "busy" things are or seem.

Oh it's easy to plan around, I won't debate that. But the days when I need to resort to crackers and peanut butter are maybe once a month, so the effort to plan for it not happening just doesn't feel worth it.

 

[Psai]

Do you guys work at my hospital? These pics are so familiar

 

[ortnakas]

It was supposed to be a short day, everything went wrong

Cliff bars in your pocket at all times, friend.

After subsisting mostly on Cliff bars for two months on surgery, I haven't had one since.

 

[neusu]

I still think getting a PEG placed prior to my PGY-2 year would have been the best course of action..

 

[Crayola227]

I still think getting a PEG placed prior to my PGY-2 year would have been the best course of action..

and a cath bag like House

 

[OrthoTraumaMD]

My go-tos as a resident were the fruit juice plastic cups and turkey sandwiches in the ER fridges.

 

[mehc012]

Not a peanut butter fan, but graham crackers + applesauce is surprisingly satisfying once you hit the last third of a 12+hr shift.

 

[takeurmeds02]

...when I worked in the ED, the turkey sandwiches infused with hints of seran wrap flavoring on hamburger buns were amazing....shhhhhh.

Edit: Pro-tip if you knew about the EMS rooms....

 

[ChrisMack390]

I know a girl who refused to drink almost anything for her 8 weeks of surgery because she didn't want to have to pee.

Idk if that is reasonable or if she is mildly insane.

 

[cluelessmedstudent411]

WTF?

I've only rotated at one hospital but we have Doc lounge and Surgeon lounge (part of surgery center). Both are stocked with hot food, keurig, fruit, sweets like pudding cake yogurt, etc. Students are allowed and welcomed in both lounge.

While on surgery, we would frequently stop by the surgeon lounge for coffee or snacks. I have never bought lunch during M3. I just go to the doc lounge even if im in outpt clinic just drive over to the hospital for free lunch!

I thought this was normal...

 

[Mad Jack]

WTF?

I've only rotated at one hospital but we have Doc lounge and Surgeon lounge (part of surgery center). Both are stocked with hot food, keurig, fruit, sweets like pudding cake yogurt, etc. Students are allowed and welcomed in both lounge.

While on surgery, we would frequently stop by the surgeon lounge for coffee or snacks. I have never bought lunch during M3. I just go to the doc lounge even if im in outpt clinic just drive over to the hospital for free lunch!

I thought this was normal...

That is not normal dude. You're missing out.

And we've got a doctor's lounge with coffee, plus there's hot coffee in the OR lounge, but creamer is often in short supply on the OR side so it's easier to choke down some tea than black or sugared coffee.

 

[Mad Jack]

I know a girl who refused to drink almost anything for her 8 weeks of surgery because she didn't want to have to pee.

Idk if that is reasonable or if she is mildly insane.

Insane.

 

[MediCane2006]

Even the attendings that have been here 35+ years still him on the crackers and peanut butter between cases. It's the ultimate equalizer.

This was my life during fellowship. When you get out of an 8-9 hour case at 6pm and still have to see 3 hand consults in the ED, before going home, saltines and Pb look like heaven

 

[ChrisMack390]

Insane.

Haha kind of figured. She drank like 2 espressos and hardly any other liquids the entire shifts.

 

[MediCane2006]

Insane.

That is how you get kidney stones

 

[MediCane2006]

In residency on night float we used to make pudding pops by sticking tongue depressors into pudding cups and freezing them in the ICU break room fridge

 

[Mad Jack]

In residency on night float we used to make pudding pops by sticking tongue depressors into pudding cups and freezing them in the ICU break room fridge

See, these are the sort of tips I started this thread for!

 

[mehc012]

In residency on night float we used to make pudding pops by sticking tongue depressors into pudding cups and freezing them in the ICU break room fridge

Damn, that's brilliant! We just stole the regular-style popsicles they kept in the ER for small children who behaved for sutures/splinting, etc.

 

[cluelessmedstudent411]

That is not normal dude. You're missing out.

And we've got a doctor's lounge with coffee, plus there's hot coffee in the OR lounge, but creamer is often in short supply on the OR side so it's easier to choke down some tea than black or sugared coffee.

Now im afraid of what my 4th yr away rotations will be like.

 

[MediCane2006]

Damn, that's brilliant! We just stole the regular-style popsicles they kept in the ER for small children who behaved for sutures/splinting, etc.

When you are at a children's hospital it's easy to live off the land. My breakfast on peds surgery night float was usually a slurpee and fruit loops

 

[Mad Jack]

When you are at a children's hospital it's easy to live off the land. My breakfast on peds surgery night float was usually a slurpee and fruit loops

I've developed a sudden interest in working with children.

 

[VisionaryTics]

Good sources of calories:
Pudding from bone marrow transplant floor fridge. Those people all have mucositis, so there's an excellent selection of puddings
Graham crackers, saltine crackers, and peanut butter from PACU
Surgeon's lounge "coffee": put four packets of sugar and two creamers in to make it palatable
Cookie platter in med student lounge
TwoCal HN on head and neck floor. Vanilla and butterscotch flavors to choose from. Not bad
Ask reps to bring food for long cases

See, @mimelim , I plan ahead. I know at least five good food sources.

 

[Taddy Mason]

I always keep a couple protein bars and Starbucks Via packets in my white coat, or somewhere readily accessible if I'm not wearing it.

 

[surgonc2017]

Graham crackers and cream cheese is basically cheesecake.


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[Ismet]

I've developed a sudden interest in working with children.

Our fridges are stocked with ice cream, italian ice, puddings, popsicles, etc. And we have goldfish crackers and peanut butter sandwich crackers. We obviously don't live off the stuff, we all bring our own food or eat in the cafeteria, but at 3am when the cafeteria is closed and you need a little something, a cup of ice cream sure hits the spot

 

[Stagg737]

I know a girl who refused to drink almost anything for her 8 weeks of surgery because she didn't want to have to pee.

Idk if that is reasonable or if she is mildly insane.

Insane.

As to the food porn, a sandwich bag of pretzels and some mustard packets are a nice change from saltines and protein bars every now and then.

 

[kelminak]

That is not normal dude. You're missing out.

And we've got a doctor's lounge with coffee, plus there's hot coffee in the OR lounge, but creamer is often in short supply on the OR side so it's easier to choke down some tea than black or sugared coffee.

>Needing creamer to drink coffee

 

[Winged Scapula]

WTF?

I've only rotated at one hospital but we have Doc lounge and Surgeon lounge (part of surgery center). Both are stocked with hot food, keurig, fruit, sweets like pudding cake yogurt, etc. Students are allowed and welcomed in both lounge.

While on surgery, we would frequently stop by the surgeon lounge for coffee or snacks. I have never bought lunch during M3. I just go to the doc lounge even if im in outpt clinic just drive over to the hospital for free lunch!

I thought this was normal...

This is not normal.

 

[Terry Toma]

Cliff bars in your pocket at all times, friend.

After subsisting mostly on Cliff bars for two months on surgery, I haven't had one since.

Still a few years off for me, but I am definitely expecting to subsist on the Cliff bar diet for a good chunk of my training. I always have one or two stashed in my backpack, glovebox, and a few other strategic locations. Won't be at all surprised to get to the end of a week here and there during 3rd/intern year to realize that I've consumed nothing but 37 peanut butter Cliff bars in the preceding 7 days.

 

[Mad Jack]

>Needing creamer to drink coffee

I can't help that I'm not a psychopath.

 

[ortnakas]

WTF?

I've only rotated at one hospital but we have Doc lounge and Surgeon lounge (part of surgery center). Both are stocked with hot food, keurig, fruit, sweets like pudding cake yogurt, etc. Students are allowed and welcomed in both lounge.

While on surgery, we would frequently stop by the surgeon lounge for coffee or snacks. I have never bought lunch during M3. I just go to the doc lounge even if im in outpt clinic just drive over to the hospital for free lunch!

I thought this was normal...

Plunder the free food while you can. This isn't normal.

My attending took me the surgeon's lounge with him a few times at one of the hospitals he goes to and gave me snacks, but that was a rare occurrence. At my normal hospital we're welcome to be in the residents' lounge, but it doesn't have much in the way of free stuff (occasionally the hospital stocks the fridge with drinks, but there's no food). Our cafeteria is cheap, but you have to pay for it yourself unless you have a resident who doesn't use their own free meals and gives them to you.

 

[chizledfrmstone]

What 3rd world country are you guys living in?

The hospital I'm rotating at allows medical students to eat as much as they want in the cafeteria for free. Once a week they bring food from a nice local restaurant to the lounge. Both lounges are always stocked with food.

 

[Psai]

What 3rd world country are you guys living in?

The hospital I'm rotating at allows medical students to eat as much as they want in the cafeteria for free. Once a week they bring food from a nice local restaurant to the lounge. Both lounges are always stocked with food.

brb transferring

 

[mimelim]

What 3rd world country are you guys living in?

The hospital I'm rotating at allows medical students to eat as much as they want in the cafeteria for free. Once a week they bring food from a nice local restaurant to the lounge. Both lounges are always stocked with food.

Depends on the hospital you are at. In general private, community based hospitals will have more and better food options because they are trying to keep their physicians/staff happy because they always have other options. The more "prestigious", academic hospitals with tons of trainees and physicians that are less into things for the lifestyle tend to be much skimpier.

I'm on a rotation right now that nets me a steak (ribeye for me) cooked to my preferred temp waiting for me two or three times a week. There may or may not be a private plane involved as well .

And while red meat twice a week is probably not the greatest of life choices, I'm going to live it up this month

 

[ortnakas]

@mimelim when I read your post as twice a day I was a bit dubious, but two free ribeyes a week sounds pretty fantastic (and I'm a petite female who doesn't have the biggest appetite). Live it up while you can!

 

[Ismet]

What 3rd world country are you guys living in?

The hospital I'm rotating at allows medical students to eat as much as they want in the cafeteria for free. Once a week they bring food from a nice local restaurant to the lounge. Both lounges are always stocked with food.

Wat. I've almost burned through my meal card and I still have 4 months left.

 

[Psai]

Depends on the hospital you are at. In general private, community based hospitals will have more and better food options because they are trying to keep their physicians/staff happy because they always have other options. The more "prestigious", academic hospitals with tons of trainees and physicians that are less into things for the lifestyle tend to be much skimpier.

I'm on a rotation right now that nets me a steak (ribeye for me) cooked to my preferred temp waiting for me two or three times a week. There may or may not be a private plane involved as well .

And while red meat twice a week is probably not the greatest of life choices, I'm going to live it up this month

From vascular surgeon to vascular patient

 

[KnuxNole]

What 3rd world country are you guys living in?

The hospital I'm rotating at allows medical students to eat as much as they want in the cafeteria for free. Once a week they bring food from a nice local restaurant to the lounge. Both lounges are always stocked with food.

Same, when I was a student we would have hour lunches in surgery, and sometimes go to restaraunts.

 

[Mad Jack]

Wat. I've almost burned through my meal card and I still have 4 months left.

Meal card? I only get a 10% discount... And even that was wiped out by a ten percent price increase this year...

 

[Mad Jack]

Same, when I was a student we would have hour lunches in surgery, and sometimes go to restaraunts.

I'm not one to be jealous, but this is one of the few times in my life I can say that I'm feeling that basest of emotions.

 

[MediCane2006]

Our fridges are stocked with ice cream, italian ice, puddings, popsicles, etc. And we have goldfish crackers and peanut butter sandwich crackers. We obviously don't live off the stuff, we all bring our own food or eat in the cafeteria, but at 3am when the cafeteria is closed and you need a little something, a cup of ice cream sure hits the spot

Oh my goodness. I had to cut myself off of the peanut butter sandwich crackers. I gained 5 pounds the month I figured out where they kept those.