working through lunch, PLEASE HELP

eleslie1989

hey guys, hope your all doing well and having fun!

i am struggling with my calorie intake.

mornings ill have cereal or toast but mainly cereal, and for dinner ill have a weightwatchers meal with lots of veg. i just dont have the funds to buy fresh!

OK, so my problem is my shifts at work are always an 11-3 with a 15 min break. how the hell am i meant to have a decent lunch in that amount of time?!

vim_n_vigor

I get an hour lunch, but exercise for 50 minutes and eat in 10. It is possible, but you need to have it prepared and with you to do it.

SueGeer

Why not have a snack before work and another after?

Tiff587

I have the same problem. I make my lunches in the eve and take them with me.

I have big salad with tin of tuna or 100grams lean chicken. (If you hate salad can do same thing in low fat wrap.)
If you have a microwave you could make soup, I make leek and potato soup, so cheep to make and only 200 odd calories. Microwaves back up in three mins.

:flowerforyou:

blv0267

Why not have a snack before work and another after?

Was thinking the same thing...divide lunch in 1/2 and eat 1/2 before work and the other 1/2 after work.

Sp1nGoddess

I would eat before or after or you can make a wrap or sandwich and bring it with you. Some tuna or cheese & crackers. Maybe a thermos with some healthy soup?

When I go into the office I always take a little cooler lunch box packed with healthy stuff.

steph0924

Maybe break up the lunch you'd have at noon or 1:00 p.m. with two smaller meals right before and right after your shift. Have some yogurt and fruit at 10:30 or 10:45 and then have a banana or apple, or carrots or broccoli at 3:15 when you are finished. I have just started eating greek yogurt. The plain kind b/c it is not as processed. If you mix it with fruit or granola or honey it is very good and you have only added natural food to it, not extra sugar or chemicals like in the fat free and it is packed with protein.

DorothyR87

I actually don't get a lunch break. I'm a receptionist and barely able to leave the front desk to go to the bathroom. I always pack a lunch and take it with me and just try to take a bite when I can. Though it may not be the best lunch I take something quick and easy like a sandwich and some chips and maybe some yogurt ot string cheese as a little snack. I'm sure you could use your 15 min break to eat something like that.

tialynn1

On weekends, I have the same problem. I work 11a-3p sometimes. I started bringing celery with peanut butter to go pack or just some cut up cucumbers. I have also brought yogurt to eat when I am there then I eat after work.

CMmrsfloyd

Do you have a fridge there? I would say try bringing things you don't have to waste time heating up since you don't have a long break. Fruit, yogurt, nuts, salad (you could pre-cook chicken and bring that in a baggy for the salad). Veggies and dip. You could have cottage cheese or peanut butter with your fruit. Stuff like that. I'd think in terms of 'snacks' and bring 'easy' stuff so you can eat quickly but still eat well. :-)

judypriv

I eat while I work everyday. i make a big salad and munch on it when I can although I am at a desk too. can you make some things that can be hand held like a wrap or sandwich and then wrap it in foil and keep in your pocket to grab bites of?

floweringcurrant

I frequently eat lunch in a short amount of time like that. I would make something at the beginning of the week that you can keep rationed out in your fridge to take with you. You could also eat a heavier breakfast with more protein, and eat something like a handful of almonds, or some almond butter and an apple at lunch. That way you would be getting enough calories that time of day to keep going and have energy.

LFDBabs

Rethink buying fresh. I don't buy weight watchers/lean cuisine/healthy choice anymore because they are ridiculously expensive considering the quantity (and quality) that you get from them....not to mention the sodium! It's actually WAY cheaper for me to buy fresh veggies, meats and fruit. You'll feel fuller too. I go to a local produce/meat market and skip the grocery store as it's a bit less expensive for me to shop this way.

I often work through my lunch. Some of my favorites: Starkist Tuna Lunch Kits, Bell Pepper strips (all colors) about 7-9 oz in a ziplock bag, brocoli with carrots and one strip of crumbled bacon topped with a yogurt based dressing, roast beef and pepper jack cheese in a Flat Out flat bread wrap (yum and TONS of protein), an apple, carrots, greek yogurt. All of these will fill you up and not break the bank. Most you can eat quickly or pick at them over a period of time. Hope this helps

christibam

Make lunches for the week on a day you have off from work. Just grab one and stick it in the microwave really quick when you want it.

If you don't have a fridge or microwave, pack a little cooler with stuff that doesn't need to be heated up or just throw some stuff in your purse that doesn't even have to be in a cooler. Throw in an apple, banana, 100 calorie packs, almonds, etc.

Caniacgirl59

I also take 15 minute lunch breaks. I pack my lunch every day and I also make sure I have a couple healthy snacks on hand so I'm not tempted to run to the vending machine. I totally understand not being able to afford expensive grocery tips, but there are some ways to make healthy meals ahead of time. I'm an avid couponer, and I save about 50-75% on all my grocery bills by matching coupons to weekly sale items. I used to make a meal plan and then shop for those items, but I now buy what's on sale, and make my meal plans around that. When things are super cheap I stock up on them like frozen veggies, pasta sauce, whole wheat pasta, chicken breast, tuna etc... Grocery stores in my area also mark down fresh fruit and veggies when they only have a few more days of shelf life on them. Sure I go to the grocery store more often, but I save a ton of money in the process. I make a large healthy meal a couple nights a week, and bring leftovers for my lunches. I always try to keep almonds, greek yogurt, and fruit on hand at work for back up.

eleslie1989

thanks for all the great ideas, i work in greggs the bakers and beleive me it is hard working that shift and not just picking up a sandwich from there! plus i get 50% discount!

iv tried having something before and after but inbetween i end up starving (or thinkin i am) and end up getting something from work because it is right in front of me prepared and ready to eat! im actually looking for a new job to get away from the temptation plus its obviously not what i want my career to be! lol

dlwyatt82

It's only a 4-hour shift, so you're not expected to have an actual lunch break (legally). In your case, I would probably time my meals so I ate "lunch" just before starting work between 10 and 11, have a small snack part way through work (a granola bar or something easy like that), and if you need one, another snack after work before dinner, depending on when you eat in the evening.

debs6

I am a teacher and our lunch times are only 25 minutes in total. By the time the classroom is emptied, the room is locked up and I walk to the staffroom there is less than 20 minutes. Considering a bell goes two minutes before the beginning of period 5 - lunch needs to be over and equipment is ready for the lesson- there is less than 15 minutes for eating and a toilet break - so there is no time for heating food or any fussing. Generally I will take 2 pieces of fruit and some nuts. I eat the fruit first and then if I run out of time for the nuts I can eat most of them on my walk to my classroom. By no means a perfect lunch - but it sustains me most of the time until dinner- or if I am hungry I will sometimes have a snack after school.
eative
You can finds something that is quick and healthy- just be a bit creative and you will manage something.Good luck

eleslie1989

It's only a 4-hour shift, so you're not expected to have an actual lunch break (legally). In your case, I would probably time my meals so I ate "lunch" just before starting work between 10 and 11, have a small snack part way through work (a granola bar or something easy like that), and if you need one, another snack after work before dinner, depending on when you eat in the evening.

yes i know im not due any more than 15 mins. im not complaining about that.

all i am getting at is the fact i have breakfast at 9 after working out and have dinner at 5.30/6. i struggle to eat anything before work because im just not hungry because its not been long since breakfat, then i dont want to spoil dinner by eating after work. i love my days off and i do great with eating at my set times and i have way more energy in the evening to work out.

its just a pain in the back side at the moment but hopefully will get out there soon

TitanGM

I'm a guy, and I do prepare my own foot for about 2 months already since I have started a body change plan. Since I've never bought any food other than what I prepare. The key is to FIND TIME TO PREPARE YOUR MEALS IN ADVANCE and refrigerate them ready to go. Begining is really tough (i still struggle) but pays of and eventually you get used to it. Use your prepared snacks at work. It doesn't have to be a big meal to call it OK.

tlinval

IMO, you need a bigger breakfast. I think you'll do better if you have a good breakfast, then a small snack before work, then eat a good lunch after work. That's a hard shift to work especially when you're hungry!! Good luck :flowerforyou:

JenAiMarres

if you pack your lunch ahead you should probably have no issue eating it withing the 15 minutes allowed...also have a healthy snack before and after...problem solved!

moseler

I am a teacher and although I get a lunch break, it isn't until later in the day... I bring greek yogurt, fruit, cucumbers/onions with Walden Farms Raspberry Vinagarette and sometimes, low fat popcorn or some type of snack that will get me through until I can sit down for lunch... pack your own foods the night before so you are not tempted to buy from a vending machine or elsewhere... I agree with the majority here, try eating a little bit of lunch before and after your work and bring something to nibble on while you are at work.

arl29

I've been eating turkey sandwiches. 5 slices of Oscar Meyer turkey = 45 calories and 2 slices of bread= 70 calories (mustard = no calories). For a total of 115 calories, I can substitute this sandwich for one of my snacks. Much more filling than a few crackers. :happy:

judy20in2011

Definately plan ahead. Wraps with lean meat, cheese and veggies. Small salad w/a protein. Rice cake w/peanut butter and fruit. Light cheese on crackers. Small packages of almonds.. etc.. Make sure you have a protein. Hope this gives you some ideas.

jaqiswany

A prepared salad box maybe? Or do you have access to a microwave? I love a veg medley with a tiny amount of chopped grilled bacon on it and some chopped red pepper.
Its just a mix of brocolli, cauli, carrot, leek all steamed and laid out in a shallow bowl ( i usually arrange it in a decorative manner) then sprinkled with the chopped pepper and crisy bacon , with a light sprinkling of mozzerella cheese. Its really tasty.

Theres all manner of pitta pockets fillings you can prepare too , or deli wraps filled with salad etc.

Hope you find something that you like , good luck :-)

judy20in2011

I actually don't get a lunch break. I'm a receptionist and barely able to leave the front desk to go to the bathroom. I always pack a lunch and take it with me and just try to take a bite when I can. Though it may not be the best lunch I take something quick and easy like a sandwich and some chips and maybe some yogurt ot string cheese as a little snack. I'm sure you could use your 15 min break to eat something like that.

I am pretty sure you are legally protected to have breaks! This would concern me if your in a company that doesn't make this a priority or care about the ramifications of not protecting it's employees.

dlwyatt82

I actually don't get a lunch break. I'm a receptionist and barely able to leave the front desk to go to the bathroom. I always pack a lunch and take it with me and just try to take a bite when I can. Though it may not be the best lunch I take something quick and easy like a sandwich and some chips and maybe some yogurt ot string cheese as a little snack. I'm sure you could use your 15 min break to eat something like that.

I am pretty sure you are legally protected to have breaks! This would concern me if your in a company that doesn't make this a priority or care about the ramifications of not protecting it's employees.

It depends on where you are, and the length of your shift. In Ontario, there are certain thresholds that trigger one or two mandatory 30-minute breaks throughout the day. When working a 4-hour shift, there is no required break. I'm not sure what the labor laws are like at the state and federal level in the US, but they're probably similar (even if the details are slightly off).