Michael T. Andreoli, MD, practices at Northwestern Medicine in Naperville, Illinois. He specializes in diseases of the retina and vitreous as well as benign tumors and malignant cancers of the posterior segment. The Academy asked him to share his perspective on the vegetarian diet.
Please note: Dr. Andreoli is sharing her own personal experience. What worked for him might not be the best approach for others.
Food Fact You Wish You Had Known When You Were Younger?
Most of the year (besides the summer months) in the northern United States, the skin produces little vitamin D from sun exposure. You may need to adjust your diet or supplementation to accommodate this potential deficiency.
Biggest Nutrition Mistake That You See Busy Physicians Make?
Most of us doctors would admit that we’ve experienced the cycle of inadvertent fasting during a busy clinic or OR day, then succumbed to the urge for high calorie junk food (like a candy bar). Much of the time, you feel terrible during the fasting and sometimes even worse after the candy bar!
Food Tip(s) When You Have Limited Breaks to Eat During the Day.
I recommend keeping a simple high protein snack accessible during the day for a quick escape from a hectic clinic day. I usually feel better and more recharged with something like peanuts or trail mix rather than candy.
How Has Your Diet Changed as You’ve Grown Older?
I became a vegetarian in high school. While I do not necessarily recommend that dietary change for everyone, it does give a fresh perspective on the traditional meat-heavy western diet. Like most people, I was accustomed to consuming meat at nearly every meal while I was growing up. However, there are plenty of plant-based alternatives that make for a quite tasty and healthy meal!
Tip for Breaking Bad Eating Habits
My biggest health regret during training was allowing my clinical duties to interfere with a nutritious diet. In practice, I have remained busy but have arranged my schedule to ensure sufficient time to eat a real lunch. I have found that I am more efficient and energized to start off the afternoon schedule after adequate nutrition. I recommend looking out for your personal health; nobody is going to do it for you!
What Resources Would You Recommend?
The American Heart Association has done a great job of compiling helpful nutrition information, as has the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and several other organizations.