About a year ago I swore off Ramen Noodles because as tempting as they seem I started feeling sick after eating them and they weren't doing my blood pressure any favors. Sure they had gotten me through many a long train ride in China, but my long term health matters. So how did I get here, sitting in a rundown dorm room in Washington Heights about to eat some Hot & Spicy Bowl Noodles (one bowl=76% daily sodium requirement)? Let's just say the one kitchen in the building is ten floors up and my brand new Hot Pot is wonderful but still somewhat limited in what it can cook. I really can't complain though, I've had some wonderful meals during my past week in New York including a delicious brunch with an amazing view and wonderful Pizzoccheri, which for all my love of pasta I'd somehow never eaten before. But sadly my bank account can't handle many more fabulous meals and my current living situation does not exactly make cooking easy (I'd like to go all zenhabits and simplify my eating...but I don't even have a refrigerator) so it's Ramen or bust.
Since my own diet is going down the drain it got me thinking about the struggle to get the general population to eat healthfully. Back in the neighborhood were I was once involved with the Project Health Girls Fitness and Nutrition Program, I'm reminded of how far there is to go. Sure, we may have the first lady on our side, but when certain people treat eating junk food as an inalienable right, you know you're in trouble. Coincidentally, the Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear is going on today and I wish I was there!
I actually applaud Major Bloomberg for the steps he's taken to make New York a healthier (and much more smoke free) place. Honestly, I don't think it's unreasonable to prevent people from buying soda with food stamps. If you absolutely must have soda, buy it yourself! Then there are programs with good intentions that get all messed up in the execution. Let kids eat what they grow! One of the reasons I want to be a pediatrician is to get started early helping kids to make healthy life choices. Of course, all physicians must talk to patients about obesity and apparently the way they do it counts for a lot. If only we learned more about nutrition in med school!
I'm nervous about starting my away rotation at Columbia on Monday...despite the stress of Step II and my crazy research project I've enjoyed the past two months of setting my own schedule...but Pediatric Pulmonology here I come. Wish me luck!
