Work Problem...Help!!

LusciousLeaks
LusciousLeaks Posts: 12
edited September 30 in Motivation and Support
I am a college student, and like many college students I have to work a part time job to pay for school. Recently I was hired at a Panera Bread, and I have been working closing (4-10:30 or 11). This poses a few problems...
1.) I don't get a break since I am only working such a short time
2.) This is during dinner time
3.) I don't eat until I get off
Ok so here is the big issue...I actually work making the food...so by the time I get off I have stared at sandwiches, salads, soups, paninis, and lots of other goodies for several hours. Needless to say, it makes a girl HUNGRY! I mean I am starving by the time we lock the doors and head to our cars. So no matter how good I've done...it is ruined to a quick impulse to just eat something to not be so hungry. Now Panera has lots of healthy options (low fat and calorie soups and salads) and I have tried packing those to take with me to eat at home. Problem is that I am hungry then and so all planning goes out the door. On countless (and to my shame) ocassions I have grabbed a pastry or a roll on my way out just because I am so hungry. This has to change!! I am thinking that there must be something (a bar, a snack, something!) that I can eat before I go to work that will keep me from getting so hungry. I am open to trying almost anything (besides pills or drugs) to stop the worktime hunger.

Any suggestions???

Replies

  • Jennloella
    Jennloella Posts: 2,286 Member
    you might not work a long enough shift to get an unpaid lunch break, but you certainly work long enough to get a paid 10 or 15 minute break! if you pack a snack, that's plenty of time to eat it! make it count, foods that will be filling! almonds, chicken salad, etc.
  • luvgreen25
    luvgreen25 Posts: 202
    You may not work long enough to require a lunch break, but you're legally entitled to a 15 minute paid break. USE IT! Even if you're just eating something quick, pack a sandwich or eat some of that Panera soup during that 15 minutes. If all else fails and you simply cannot break away for your 15 minutes, grab an apple to eat in the car on the way home. And remember to drink lots of water.
  • maryd523
    maryd523 Posts: 661 Member
    I don't think 6 1/2 to 7 hours is a short amount of time, of course you are going to get hungry during that time. Are you sure the laws in your state don't allow you a break?

    I would definitely fill up on a healthy meal right before you go into work. Bring along a healthy snack that you can eat during your shift. There's got to be a way you can at least sneak that in between customers.

    You can't fight your body's natural hunger. You have to supply it with food or the impulse eating will get you.
  • UsedToBeHusky
    UsedToBeHusky Posts: 15,228 Member
    Fiber One bars are a good snack. I agree with Jenn. You should be getting at least a 15 minute break. Fiber will help you feel full.
  • Trixtabella
    Trixtabella Posts: 471 Member
    you might not work a long enough shift to get an unpaid lunch break, but you certainly work long enough to get a paid 10 or 15 minute break! if you pack a snack, that's plenty of time to eat it! make it count, foods that will be filling! almonds, chicken salad, etc.

    I would also suggest the same, I used to have this issue as I gym after work and won't get in till around 8ish so I pack a snack to eat while I am walking over there.
  • hlavers
    hlavers Posts: 32
    Purse Snacks to the rescue! Pack in your purse a preportioned cheese snack (like babybel, kraft live active, etc), 23 almonds, and apple slices. The mix of carbs, fats and fibre should keep you going. If you can take a short (even 5 minute) break about halfway through you can pack a whole wheat tortilla smeared with 2T of hummus and some cut up veggies for a quick and healthy filler too. I feel for you I worked in a pizza joint when I was a college student and they were the worst for giving scheduled breaks.
  • Jennloella
    Jennloella Posts: 2,286 Member
    there are no federal laws requiring employers to give a break, rest, or meal period, though most employers offer it. I find it unlikely your work wouldn't let you have a small rest period....I mean if you have to say you are hypoglycemic and you need the rest period to have a snack, THEN you would be protected under the ADA laws of making a reasonable request......
  • SueInAz
    SueInAz Posts: 6,592 Member
    I've worked jobs like that in the past and my solution was to eat right before I left for work. If you eat lunch early, this before work meal would be your dinner. You should have time for a quick handful of nuts or a granola bar during your 15 minute break at work to help tide you over.
  • fionarama
    fionarama Posts: 788 Member
    can you not make a simple sandwich, maybe a tuna or ham sandwich? that would be nice and filling, quick to prepare and easy to transport?
  • aquasw16
    aquasw16 Posts: 342 Member
    Just as a few other people have said, you ARE working long enough to get a 10 or 15 minute break. Don't let them not give you one. It is the law. Second, Drink water throughout your shift. It will help keep you full.
  • LusciousLeaks
    LusciousLeaks Posts: 12
    The problem with the 10-15 minute thing is that we are packed from the time I get there until the time we close....
  • rule3
    rule3 Posts: 1
    Don't beat yourself up...All we have is this moment and the future. Yesterday is gone, we can't get it back. Learn from the past then do better from now on.
    Eat a nice healthy balance meal just prior to work. Seems you should get a 10-15 minute break around 7. If not then pack a cooler bag with sliced fresh whole foods, set it up so it's easy to eat while on the go, or get that snack around 3 hours later.

    Good luck and take care of your health.
  • SueInAz
    SueInAz Posts: 6,592 Member
    The problem with the 10-15 minute thing is that we are packed from the time I get there until the time we close....

    You still have to be taking at least one bathroom break while you're there. Scarf down a granola bar, use the restroom, wash your hands and head back to work! :smile:
  • Jennloella
    Jennloella Posts: 2,286 Member
    I don't think they'd deny you a break if you asked, even just 5 or 6 minutes, if you don't even ask, then you're just letting this become an excuse.....
  • UsedToBeHusky
    UsedToBeHusky Posts: 15,228 Member
    there are no federal laws requiring employers to give a break, rest, or meal period, though most employers offer it. I find it unlikely your work wouldn't let you have a small rest period....I mean if you have to say you are hypoglycemic and you need the rest period to have a snack, THEN you would be protected under the ADA laws of making a reasonable request......

    Actually, the OP lives in GA and GA's labor laws do require a meal period during a six hour shift.
  • Jennloella
    Jennloella Posts: 2,286 Member
    there are no federal laws requiring employers to give a break, rest, or meal period, though most employers offer it. I find it unlikely your work wouldn't let you have a small rest period....I mean if you have to say you are hypoglycemic and you need the rest period to have a snack, THEN you would be protected under the ADA laws of making a reasonable request......

    Actually, the OP lives in GA and GA's labor laws do require a meal period during a six hour shift.

    actually they don't. go to the department of labor website and look under Georgia, 7 years in Human Resources for a company that operates in all 50 states required me to know labor laws from everywhere....actually here you go: http://www.dol.state.ga.us/js/breaks_and_meals.htm

    there are several "rights" employees think they have, but don't =(
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