Work and food
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DezYaoified
Posts: 143 Member
So i work around food 6-12 hours a day. Average is 9 hours. I rarely get a break to recharge. Very little down time. About 3/4 of my time is actually spent with the food itself and 1/4 with customers. Earliest day starts at 6am and latest is 3am. The issue i find myself fighting is that i dont have the time to eat healthy at work. I have tried making something easy like a burrito that i can just take a bite of real quick before washing up to get back to work. Normally i can only do this if i have to get out of the food prep area for a drink. As you can understand, if youre gone for more then 2 or 3 minutes for a drink of water, someone will come looking for you. A lot of times the only option to eat is the unhealthy items we are serving, there is just not enough time to get the food i brought without a break.
I guess my question is simply how other food workers deal with this? I can handle a 6 hour shift without eating but the 9 or 12 hour shifts sometimes make it difficult.
I guess my question is simply how other food workers deal with this? I can handle a 6 hour shift without eating but the 9 or 12 hour shifts sometimes make it difficult.
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Replies
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Why in goodness name aren't you taking a lunch break? (Let alone rest breaks)
If you are an employee, you are legally entitled.
If you are a business owner, be kinder to yourself!6 -
I feel for you. I worked as a youth counselor, and it felt like everybody freaks if they can't find you for 2 minutes. even bathroom breaks were almost impossible. Then as a case manager, it was easier to take breaks, but there were a lot of times when clients would call or come in to the office with some crises. In my experience, eating lunch or taking a 5-10min break is frowned upon. But after a while I was like "forget it", and made my breaks a priority (it was easier with the case position). It's impossible to be able to help others if you can't take care of yourself. If someone freaks, just remind them that it's the law (and maybe offer to help him/her so they can take their break).
Do you have time one day of the week where you can batch cook at home, and take your food to work? Maybe stuff that doesn't need to be reheated if there's no time.1 -
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juliebowman4 wrote: »Why in goodness name aren't you taking a lunch break? (Let alone rest breaks)
If you are an employee, you are legally entitled.
If you are a business owner, be kinder to yourself!
This ^^2 -
I am going to assume that you are in the U.S.
That being said, you (legally) must be given lunch and break times.0 -
I am going to assume that you are in the U.S.
That being said, you (legally) must be given lunch and break times.
Some people can waive their break as long as they sign a form, depending on the state they are in. Some people don't feel like they can take a lunch because the workload that accumulates over a lunch break pretty much makes the rest of the day a game of catch up, where as if you worked over lunch its easier to maintain the workload.
There are a lot of reasons people would wrather not take a lunch or don't take lunches. As a salaried employee at one time, would not take a lunch, there was just no time for a lunch period.0 -
I am going to assume that you are in the U.S.
That being said, you (legally) must be given lunch and break times.
I thought that too but when I looked, it seems that laws about breaks vary from state to state.
Department of Labor chart showing state meal break laws
Department of Labor chart showing state rest break laws
OP, could you take a shake or smoothie that you could grab to drink during your couple of minutes of downtime? It's not ideal but it might be a faster-to-get-down option.1 -
What kinds of food do you consider unhealthy? Perhaps consider taking a small amount of what is available.0
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I work in a hospital and dont always get breaks/lunch. We eat small snack like babybel cheese or nuts, something like that. Anything to get through our 12 hour shifts. I plan my day with MFP, so it works out great. I've lost 40 pounds this way.0
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I am going to assume that you are in the U.S.
That being said, you (legally) must be given lunch and break times.
I thought that too but when I looked, it seems that laws about breaks vary from state to state.
Department of Labor chart showing state meal break laws
Department of Labor chart showing state rest break laws
OP, could you take a shake or smoothie that you could grab to drink during your couple of minutes of downtime? It's not ideal but it might be a faster-to-get-down option.
The only labor law for breaks are for those under the age of 17. 17 or up the employeer is not require to give you a break unless you are qorking a double shift (which is considered more then 14 hours in one business day)
I can take food from home, its just hard to find the time. By the time i even find my stuff and get ready to open my food someone is looking for me. Ive tried shakes but i cant handle milk while im working and i dont like almond milk.
I guess i wondering about food that doesnt have to be put in a cold lunch box? Something that can be left out without going bad so i can get to it faster?0 -
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Where I work, there's a shelf in our cooler set aside for employee food and drinks. I usually take a small sugary drink when I work [2 if I work more than eight hours] and duck in the cooler on occasion to take a sip [it helps to keep my blood sugars up].0
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I guess i wondering about food that doesnt have to be put in a cold lunch box? Something that can be left out without going bad so i can get to it faster?
Nuts, dried fruit, fresh fruit/veggies easy to peel on the spot - eg bananas, mandarines, grapes, apples, carrots etc
Bread/ sandwiches/ crackers with fillings that don't need refrigerating
Muesli bars
Or bring an insulated lunch with ice packs and you can have your own ' mini fridge'0 -
Oops, mucked up quoting...try again........
I guess i wondering about food that doesnt have to be put in a cold lunch box? Something that can be left out without going bad so i can get to it faster?
Nuts, dried fruit, fresh fruit/veggies easy to peel on the spot - eg bananas, mandarines, grapes, apples, carrots etc
Bread/ sandwiches/ crackers with fillings that don't need refrigerating
Muesli bars
Or bring an insulated lunch with ice packs and you can have your own ' mini fridge'
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I agree with the above and what about a protein shake. I know I have similar days and I keep it with me and take a sip out of it. Helps me not feel like I'm starving. I prepare it before I go to work in a shaker bottle and add ice to keep it cold.0
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So i work around food 6-12 hours a day. Average is 9 hours. I rarely get a break to recharge. Very little down time. About 3/4 of my time is actually spent with the food itself and 1/4 with customers. Earliest day starts at 6am and latest is 3am. The issue i find myself fighting is that i dont have the time to eat healthy at work. I have tried making something easy like a burrito that i can just take a bite of real quick before washing up to get back to work. Normally i can only do this if i have to get out of the food prep area for a drink. As you can understand, if youre gone for more then 2 or 3 minutes for a drink of water, someone will come looking for you. A lot of times the only option to eat is the unhealthy items we are serving, there is just not enough time to get the food i brought without a break.
I guess my question is simply how other food workers deal with this? I can handle a 6 hour shift without eating but the 9 or 12 hour shifts sometimes make it difficult.
what do you serve that is so 'unhealthy' you cant eat it?
given that you have an active job and don't have a lot of time to eat, i don't see why you can't maintain a deficit eating small portions of food from work?1 -
TavistockToad wrote: »So i work around food 6-12 hours a day. Average is 9 hours. I rarely get a break to recharge. Very little down time. About 3/4 of my time is actually spent with the food itself and 1/4 with customers. Earliest day starts at 6am and latest is 3am. The issue i find myself fighting is that i dont have the time to eat healthy at work. I have tried making something easy like a burrito that i can just take a bite of real quick before washing up to get back to work. Normally i can only do this if i have to get out of the food prep area for a drink. As you can understand, if youre gone for more then 2 or 3 minutes for a drink of water, someone will come looking for you. A lot of times the only option to eat is the unhealthy items we are serving, there is just not enough time to get the food i brought without a break.
I guess my question is simply how other food workers deal with this? I can handle a 6 hour shift without eating but the 9 or 12 hour shifts sometimes make it difficult.
what do you serve that is so 'unhealthy' you cant eat it?
given that you have an active job and don't have a lot of time to eat, i don't see why you can't maintain a deficit eating small portions of food from work?
I work in a dessert kitchen.
Ex.
Breakfast is a red velvet cake waffle with creamcheese glaze and sugared berries.
Lunch is a strawberry shortcake sandwich with grilled strawberry fries.
Dinner is a grilled watermelon steak with whipped mascarpone and mixed berries.
We make sweet items look like regular food items.
I can get a side of berries to snack on if i get into work early enough to order before my shift but i literally can not eat berries all day.0 -
TavistockToad wrote: »So i work around food 6-12 hours a day. Average is 9 hours. I rarely get a break to recharge. Very little down time. About 3/4 of my time is actually spent with the food itself and 1/4 with customers. Earliest day starts at 6am and latest is 3am. The issue i find myself fighting is that i dont have the time to eat healthy at work. I have tried making something easy like a burrito that i can just take a bite of real quick before washing up to get back to work. Normally i can only do this if i have to get out of the food prep area for a drink. As you can understand, if youre gone for more then 2 or 3 minutes for a drink of water, someone will come looking for you. A lot of times the only option to eat is the unhealthy items we are serving, there is just not enough time to get the food i brought without a break.
I guess my question is simply how other food workers deal with this? I can handle a 6 hour shift without eating but the 9 or 12 hour shifts sometimes make it difficult.
what do you serve that is so 'unhealthy' you cant eat it?
given that you have an active job and don't have a lot of time to eat, i don't see why you can't maintain a deficit eating small portions of food from work?
I work in a dessert kitchen.
Ex.
Breakfast is a red velvet cake waffle with creamcheese glaze and sugared berries.
Lunch is a strawberry shortcake sandwich with grilled strawberry fries.
Dinner is a grilled watermelon steak with whipped mascarpone and mixed berries.
We make sweet items look like regular food items.
I can get a side of berries to snack on if i get into work early enough to order before my shift but i literally can not eat berries all day.
Ohmygosh
I totally want pictures! That sounds SO cool!
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I am going to assume that you are in the U.S.
That being said, you (legally) must be given lunch and break times.
I thought that too but when I looked, it seems that laws about breaks vary from state to state.
Department of Labor chart showing state meal break laws
Department of Labor chart showing state rest break laws
OP, could you take a shake or smoothie that you could grab to drink during your couple of minutes of downtime? It's not ideal but it might be a faster-to-get-down option.
The only labor law for breaks are for those under the age of 17. 17 or up the employeer is not require to give you a break unless you are qorking a double shift (which is considered more then 14 hours in one business day)
I can take food from home, its just hard to find the time. By the time i even find my stuff and get ready to open my food someone is looking for me. Ive tried shakes but i cant handle milk while im working and i dont like almond milk.
I guess i wondering about food that doesnt have to be put in a cold lunch box? Something that can be left out without going bad so i can get to it faster?
Ok. So you are allowed to have food at your work station? I was thinking that you'd have to have something in a different room. In that case, I'd suggest a peanut butter sandwich, granola bars, and nuts. If you can pop over to the fridge halfway through a shift and grab out the container, maybe cheese cubes too. Would that, in addition to some cut up fruits/veggies, work?0 -
My advice would be protein bars or, as some have mentioned, protein shakes. Even if you can't stop to eat/drink a whole one at once, sips and bites when you can are going to help a lot and they're so easy to carry and store. I work in a lab and often times we'll have long days and some people won't take breaks so I have to excuse myself and inhale my snack as quickly as possibly bc otherwise I will reach a point where I'm useless.
Staying hydrated is also very helpful as well. Even if I'm starving, I find I can keep going much longer if I have enough water during the day0
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