---
title: Eat Like A Nurse
url: "https://arizonacollege.edu/blog/eat-like-a-nurse/"
type: post
date_published: 2023-04-05
date_modified: 2026-04-17
schema:
  @type: Article
language: en-US
word_count: 646
reading_time: 4 min
canonical: "https://arizonacollege.edu/blog/eat-like-a-nurse/"
featured_image: "https://arizonacollege.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/superfoodstwo.jpg"
categories:
  - Nursing School
---

# Eat Like A Nurse

![super foods](https://arizonacollege.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/superfoodstwo.jpg)

_Written by Catherine Hamilton, Nursing Faculty at [Arizona College of Nursing – Salt Lake City.](https://www.arizonacollege.edu/salt-lake-city-utah-nursing-school/)_

As nurses, our focus is on our patients, communities, and family. Last in line
is often taking care of ourselves. However, our patients, communities, and
families suffer if we are not giving from our healthiest selves. Self-care
practices are crucial for being an effective nurse, and nutrition plays a big
part in self-care.

Nursing is a demanding profession, and one day is always different from the
next. It can be easy to grab the first thing available, which often is not the
best choice for our health. In addition, the latest diet or social media craze
can make us confused about what we should and should not be eating.

For me, how I eat is a matter of life and death. I have learned that consistency
is essential through years of wearing an insulin pump. I am also an active
person and love hiking, biking, and running. To participate in those activities,
I need food that sustains my energy. I have never been on a “diet,” but I try to
keep my diet consistent and exercise to stabilize my blood sugars. A consistent
eating plan has been the key to maintaining good health and being my best for
patients and students.

To be consistent with your eating plan, you must find what works best for you.
Research from the National Institute of Health finds only about 20% of Americans
who lose weight keep it off. Some popular diets can limit important nutrients
and even cause health concerns. Rather than trying different diets that often
cause weight to fall, then climb back up after the diet, get to know your body.
Pay attention to what you eat and how you feel. For example, does a steady diet
of snack foods leave your body depleted and tired? Are there particular foods
and meals that give you endurance?

What foods have worked for me? First, lean protein is vital throughout the day.
My primary sources are chicken, fish, nuts, unsweetened yogurt, and eggs.
Protein is converted to glucose very slowly, so it helps me avoid those peaks
and lows. Next, I make sure I eat lots of vegetables and fiber for the same
reason. I eat beans, green vegetables, and a variety of other vegetables. I try
to include those foods every time I eat.

Fruit is another excellent source of fiber and vitamins. Fruits also provide a
variety of health-boosting antioxidants, including flavonoids. Personally, I
avoid fruit because it spikes my blood glucose. But remember, you need to find
the right food for yourself.

I believe carbohydrates can be part of a healthy diet. I rarely eat bread;
instead, I eat brown rice or other whole grains that provide vitamins, minerals,
and fiber. Whole-grain foods can also help you feel full and control cholesterol
levels, weight, and blood pressure.

I admit being consistent in what I eat requires effort and planning. But
maintaining this diet has gotten easier over time. I started eating this way to
keep my blood glucose from bottoming out or spiking high and to have enough
energy for those long days in nursing. The added benefit is that I have
maintained my weight and continued doing the activities I love.

Not all of us care for patients or teach in classrooms. But all of us can
improve our lives with self-care and nutrition. Committing to an eating plan
that is sustainable helps us be the best for ourselves and the people in our
lives.

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_Catherine Hamilton is an experienced nurse and a full-time faculty member for [Arizona College of Nursing in Salt Lake City Utah](https://www.arizonacollege.edu/salt-lake-city-utah-nursing-school/)._

 

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_Information in this blog post is accurate as of April 5, 2023._

**Categories:** Nursing School