Restaurant workers

h_met
h_met Posts: 15
in Health and Weight Loss
At the moment I'm working at a restaurant to put myself through college. I've been working there for over a year but keep battling the same issue.

The food we offer is not... the greatest and I work there about 30-40 hours a week, on top of school, which messes with my ability to eat healthy on so many levels.

Does anyone have suggestions on how to get through longer shifts without gorging myself on bread? When I remember, I bring a Clif bar or something of the ilk, I just can't bring in real food. I'm lucky to get in a food bar of some sort thanks to a letter from my doctor due to my low blood pressure.

So does anyone have other suggestions? The same issue? Healthier bar/ideas for me when I go into work? I'd appreciate the help!
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Replies

  • Culley34
    Culley34 Posts: 224
    You can't bring your own food?
  • h_met
    h_met Posts: 15
    No, as I work in a restaurant, I am not allowed to bring in my own food. We're supposed to eat before or after our shift. There are county health issues with food prepared in a kitchen vs at home and them being mixed. Also, if I were to bring in something like a sandwich, my other coworkers would ask why they aren't allowed it.

    The snacks I bring in are supposed to be prepackaged. Sometimes I try to get away with carrot sticks.
  • skellyness
    skellyness Posts: 165 Member
    I don't understand why you can't bring a sandwich tbh.. sounds like they are trying to get a captive audience. Are there any healthier food places around near where you work?
  • h_met
    h_met Posts: 15
    A food court. At a mall. Which isn't healthy in the least. I'm not given breaks during my shift, so I couldn't leave to go find food half way through.

    The sandwich could contaminate food, fall into other people's plates, and then there's the issue of food stuck in my teeth, guests seeing me eat the sandwich, no where to store it, etc.
  • dalgirly
    dalgirly Posts: 280 Member
    Is there any way you can throw something like nuts into you bag??

    Its weird you cannot eat your own food. I worked at a restaurant throughout University, and they were happy to let us bring our own food.

    Also, are there things like fruit or veggies you can eat while there??
  • jzaz903
    jzaz903 Posts: 306 Member
    i work at a dunkin donuts, and they let me eat a little on shift.
    obviously i can't stop working in the middle of the morning rush, but when we're not so busy i take a break, go into the back(where customers can't see me) and eat. i bring my own food, usually a sandwich, oatmeal, fruit, etc.

    you could try to make sure you eat plenty before your shift starts, go outside and eat a banana or something during a break(of course they might not give you real breaks, but you could take a "cigarette break" or "bathroom break" and eat. i've gone out to my car to "smoke a cigarette"(even though i don't smoke) and eaten something there.)
    you just have to plan for those things. i work long shifts too.
  • h_met
    h_met Posts: 15
    I don't have a bag either. I work in a corporate chain, their rules are vastly different. I used to work for a small restaurant on my campus as well, and anything went.

    I have an apron with two medium pockets, that's the best I can bring in. Bags aren't allowed for space reasons. I could probably bring in nuts of some sort.

    Also, we aren't allowed to "smoke" so I couldn't say that I'm going out for a "smoke break" or else I could be potentially fired.
  • slkehl
    slkehl Posts: 3,801 Member
    I used to work in the fast food industry. My tip is to log log log. Keep track of everything you eat. That way you can make sure you're staying within your goal. It's way to easy to eat more than you realize over the course of a long shift.
  • ToughTulip
    ToughTulip Posts: 1,118 Member
    I work at an all you can eat dining center as a culinary intern during the week. I just sip on some water and avoid eating anything while I am there for the most part. Or I grab a banana or something
    Self control and will power are needed for that kind of job
  • preaser
    preaser Posts: 85 Member
    Unless you really love your job or they pay extremely well, maybe it's time to look for something different that's not in the food industry.
  • neverstray
    neverstray Posts: 3,845 Member
    . This is really stupid, and I would call bullsh*t on it, but that's me. For you, leave it in your car, go out to your car and eat. Issue solved.
  • chef84
    chef84 Posts: 7 Member
    Hold on ...how many hours you have to work in the row? 8? Without a break???
  • KH9107
    KH9107 Posts: 39 Member
    So bizarre! I've worked in 2 different chain restaurants and I was able to bring my own food in at both. Also, the smokers were able to take smoke breaks! I guess different managers may = different rules. :-/

    Anyway, I'm sure there are healthy options right in the restaurant. I worked in a place where people are gaga over the cheddar biscuits. After awhile, they were gross to me. I lost a bunch of weight while working there by eating grilled chicken, burgers without the bun with a side of broccoli, plain baked potatoes, salads with oil and vinegar. It may get redundant, but there are options!

    Also, if they are such sticklers for the rules, they are legally required to give you a break if you work a certain amount of hours. Pack your food in a cooler and eat it in the car.
  • jesz124
    jesz124 Posts: 1,004 Member
    Could you get away with taking a protein shake in? I do that sometimes, it's pretty much the same as a drink so no-one really minds if I have it at work. I don't get breaks either ;-(
  • harrietlg
    harrietlg Posts: 239
    sounds like my job except they all get half hour breaks on their 8-12 hour shifts and can eat what they like. Those rules are weird, i prepare my own food at work all the time since i'm a chef, i quite often bring my own foods in but i'm allowed to eat whats in the kitchen and I can make it healthy. You'll have to eat a big meal before, a protein snack in the middle and a meal after, your job is ridiculous though, i know I don't get breaks but if i'm on my own it's difficult, you guys should, you run around more, perhaps you should appeal to head office the rules may not be what they seem?
  • ToughTulip
    ToughTulip Posts: 1,118 Member
    A food court. At a mall. Which isn't healthy in the least. I'm not given breaks during my shift, so I couldn't leave to go find food half way through.

    The sandwich could contaminate food, fall into other people's plates, and then there's the issue of food stuck in my teeth, guests seeing me eat the sandwich, no where to store it, etc.

    How many hours are you working per shift?
  • SMJ1987
    SMJ1987 Posts: 368
    Provided your shifts are longer than 4 or 5 hours this seems to violate some pretty important labour laws...no?
  • vbrent07
    vbrent07 Posts: 115
    They have apple and carrot snack packs, maybe those would be okay?
  • duchessglencairn
    duchessglencairn Posts: 20
    How about a meal replacement shake? You could put it in one of their cups so it looks like you are using their products.
  • lovemykids58
    lovemykids58 Posts: 195 Member
    A food court. At a mall. Which isn't healthy in the least. I'm not given breaks during my shift, so I couldn't leave to go find food half way through.

    The sandwich could contaminate food, fall into other people's plates, and then there's the issue of food stuck in my teeth, guests seeing me eat the sandwich, no where to store it, etc.

    By law they HAVE to give you breaks depending on the amount of hours you work. If you are wotking 30-40 hours you should be given 2 15 min breaks and a lunch.... I'd look for another location to work
  • jesz124
    jesz124 Posts: 1,004 Member
    Provided your shifts are longer than 4 or 5 hours this seems to violate some pretty important labour laws...no?

    In the UK you have to work a 6 hour shift to be entitled to a 15 minute rest break. Not sure how it works over there though?
  • h_met
    h_met Posts: 15
    To answer questions: I swear this is not all any sort of bull. Admittedly I work for an extremely strict company, but they're willing to allow me prepackaged snacks because I have a doctors note.

    We aren't supposed to leave to go to our cars at any point in time during our shift. My shifts are anywhere from 3 hours, to 8. It depends on business and the shift given to me. It's hard to eat before or after because I often arrive for work at 4 and then get home at 9:30. I get hungry in the middle of my shift and don't want to eat a huge meal so late at night.

    This job pays mildly well, but I'm graduate at the beginning of December, so I don't want to find a new job, train, and wait to be given good shifts. By then I'll graduate, and move to Phoenix for my new job in January, making the whole situation pointless.
  • Rogue_Minx
    Rogue_Minx Posts: 71 Member
    I love how everyone is complaining about how bizarre it is that you aren't allowed to bring in outside food (which I agree is weird), instead of offering advice on what to do. :ohwell:

    Seeing as how I work in a restaurant, too, I know exactly how you feel. I put some money into appetite suppressants for a while but they didn't really work too well. Meal replacement shakes work the best for me. Have one right before your shift and it could help. To make you feel a little fuller, add some plain dry oatmeal and let it sit for a few minutes.

    Otherwise, drink A LOT of water. It will be good for cutting water weight and hydrating your body but it will also help you feel fullish. These are tricks I use and they work alright.

    Last resort: stay out of the kitchen at all costs, if possible. It's what I do when I know my resolve is weak that day.

    Hope this helps and good luck!
  • homeyjosey
    homeyjosey Posts: 138 Member
    Intermittent fasting
  • melonclarinet
    melonclarinet Posts: 163 Member
    I put myself through 9 years of college working in a restaurant. I usually didn't eat during the shift if I could avoid it (I didn't want to miss out on tables and therefore MONEY). There's always SOMETHING that you can have if you have to eat. Otherwise, bring in a protein bar. You said they let you do that. There are lots of bars that have a lot of protein, little sugar, and will keep you full. I agree with everyone else, drink lots of water along with it.
  • jesz124
    jesz124 Posts: 1,004 Member
    I love how everyone is complaining about how bizarre it is that you aren't allowed to bring in outside food (which I agree is weird), instead of offering advice on what to do. :ohwell:

    Seeing as how I work in a restaurant, too, I know exactly how you feel. I put some money into appetite suppressants for a while but they didn't really work too well. Meal replacement shakes work the best for me. Have one right before your shift and it could help. To make you feel a little fuller, add some plain dry oatmeal and let it sit for a few minutes.

    Otherwise, drink A LOT of water. It will be good for cutting water weight and hydrating your body but it will also help you feel fullish. These are tricks I use and they work alright.

    Last resort: stay out of the kitchen at all costs, if possible. It's what I do when I know my resolve is weak that day.

    Hope this helps and good luck!

    Erm I think if you read back over the thread you'll see quite a few suggestions? Meal replacement drink, protein shakes, nuts and just a few I can remember.
  • soleilxo
    soleilxo Posts: 202
    um just control yourself. i know exactly what you are going through i am in the sameeee situation. im a bartendar at a pub& grill and when its slow, or there are no people, i munch munch munch on these stupid kettle chips we have. and than if I am really bad i go into the kitchen and go crazy like find food that I crave, and it has everything so thats terrbile. right now, ive been getting wayyyy better. ive realized that if i start, i dont usually stop. so i just dont even start haha. and now i drink diet pepsi there like its no tomorrow, and a lot of water. lol :) that keeps me feeling full :) but honestly, its all about your control and willpower. some people may obv disagree. if you cant bring your own food (which I do sometimes) than thats just weird.:) wish you luck <3
  • Ruthe8
    Ruthe8 Posts: 423 Member
    If your shift isn't long enough for a break then you can eat before or after it.
  • jaws3153
    jaws3153 Posts: 3 Member
    What she's saying sounds pretty normal for restaurant work. From high school until after college I worked 6 years between two national chains. I never saw anyone bring their own food in. And you really don't get breaks. The only time you might get a break is if you work and open to close double. When I worked at Friday's and open/close meant getting there at 10AM and they didn't close until 2AM.

    As a waiter you really can't get breaks. Doing so would mean having the hostess stop seating you for an hour. Say you have a four table station and decide you need a break. As the first three tables left you'd have to keep them empty, waiting for the fourth table to leave. After they finally leave you'd have to go somewhere else to eat, do that, and then come back. Then you can't get all four tables sat at once unless you want to provide the worst service ever. Taking an actual break and leaving would probably cost you six table turns altogether. At $5 a table that break cost $30.

    Working at Friday's during college when I also stopped playing sports and starting drinking more (oh, yeah, a bar right in the workplace!) is what helped me go from 190 in high school to 275 at 24. Now, if I had today's attitude and MFP back then I think I could've managed my weight better. Instead I was living the Animal House credo of fat, drunk, and happy. And I took a french fry off of every plate.
  • Gidzmo
    Gidzmo Posts: 905 Member
    Provided your shifts are longer than 4 or 5 hours this seems to violate some pretty important labour laws...no?

    In the UK you have to work a 6 hour shift to be entitled to a 15 minute rest break. Not sure how it works over there though?

    I used to work at a McDonalds (before the salads, lattes, and such). In CA (where I live), the rule was:
    a) under 4 hours--no breaks.
    b) 4-6 hours--10-minute break.
    c) 6-8 hours--2 10-minute breaks AND a half-hour break.

    They have to let you eat sometime.

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