Work Days=Challenge. Help!

aprilshowers487
aprilshowers487 Posts: 1
in Motivation and Support
I'm not sure if anybody is experiencing a similar challenge. I am a Pediatric Emergency Room Child Life Specialist and work 12s. I do mid-shifts which means I work from 11:30am-midnight. I have found that on days I work I struggle to eat right. By the time I wake up it is too late for breakfast, I often find myself stopping at dunkin donuts for breakfast and coffee on my way to work. I don't eat lunch because I don't start my work day until around lunch time. If it's busy I will have days where I don't get to eat again until 10pm or later (although I try to get dinner around 7pm if possible). Usually when I finally have time to eat I am so hungry I grab the first thing from the cafeteria I can get my hands on. The "healthier" area of the cafeteria closes at 7pm so all that is available are fried foods like chicken tenders, fries etc. I have tried brining my dinner but often forget it in my rush in the morning, and by the time I get home at night I'm so exhausted I don't have the energy to pack my dinner for the next day. Does anybody else have a similar schedule or struggle with this problem?

Replies

  • eyeshuh
    eyeshuh Posts: 333
    Do you have a desk or a cabinet or area that you can stock with healthy non-perishable snacks? I am not in a similar situation but I do work for a hospital and I know how hard it can be to make a healthy meal out of the very often cheap and easy fried cafeteria food. If you had a place you could stash snacks, you could just go and grab when you're hungry. Dried fruit, filling things like nuts, maybe a protein bar or make your own granola bars at home to cut up and keep at work?
  • vicarella13
    vicarella13 Posts: 15
    I would have an early lunch/breakfast before you go to work. Like 1 egg and 3 egg whites scrambled and throw in some vegtables with a coffee. Then make a protein shake that you take to work and drink throughout your shift until your break. Make sure the shake has protein. Prepare and pack your dinner the night before. Even have all the shake stuff ready so it's just grab and go to work. Take more healthy snacks to work that you can much on throughout the day such as vegetables and humus or some yogurt and almonds. If you keep snacking throughout your shift, you will avoid the mad rush of hunger at the end of your shifts and keep your energy up. Also, make sure you drink lots of water throughout your shift. Add fresh cut lemon slices or lime for variety.
    I'm not sure if anybody is experiencing a similar challenge. I am a Pediatric Emergency Room Child Life Specialist and work 12s. I do mid-shifts which means I work from 11:30am-midnight. I have found that on days I work I struggle to eat right. By the time I wake up it is too late for breakfast, I often find myself stopping at dunkin donuts for breakfast and coffee on my way to work. I don't eat lunch because I don't start my work day until around lunch time. If it's busy I will have days where I don't get to eat again until 10pm or later (although I try to get dinner around 7pm if possible). Usually when I finally have time to eat I am so hungry I grab the first thing from the cafeteria I can get my hands on. The "healthier" area of the cafeteria closes at 7pm so all that is available are fried foods like chicken tenders, fries etc. I have tried brining my dinner but often forget it in my rush in the morning, and by the time I get home at night I'm so exhausted I don't have the energy to pack my dinner for the next day. Does anybody else have a similar schedule or struggle with this problem?

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