Suggestions for a Night shifter.

victorvontatts
victorvontatts Posts: 4
in Health and Weight Loss
I work 3rd shift and it is really hard for me to intake enough calories with my work and sleep schedule. Any suggestions on what and how to eat properly while working 3rd shift?

Replies

  • chrisjathompson
    chrisjathompson Posts: 227 Member
    I am just starting, but I am finding it easier to preplan how I will fill my food day a week in advance, and just keep making tweaks everyday as I find new options. I have up to Thursday already planned, but I will make several small changes before I get there.

    I have my meals renamed to times I will eat. 2pm, 7pm, midnight, and 4am. Plus snacks.

    I work 3pm - 3am for the last 5 months, I was 6 pm - 6 am. It is difficult to get into a routine on nights, but it has it's advantages. I am limited to McDonalds being the only fast food open here after midnight, and I am not a huge fan so that's a bonus.
  • jennifer_417
    jennifer_417 Posts: 12,344 Member
    I'm a grazer. At work, I'll eat one small meal, then a bunch of snacks throughout the night. I also prelog at the beginning of each day, then tweak it according to what I actually end up eating.
  • Kaathmandu
    Kaathmandu Posts: 129
    When I used to work nights, I would have 'lunch' in my break at work, breakfast when I got home, went to bed, got up in the evening, cooked and ate dinner with my husband, then a couple of hours later, back to work. No problem. (Apart from the whole night shift thing!!)
  • PMarie29
    PMarie29 Posts: 75
    I work 12 hour night shift -

    I wake up and eat something right before work, and then I log everything that I plan on eating at work before I go to work as well, as I'm packing up my bag. I usually have one bigger item (tonight was quinoa mac and cheese) and a lot of little snacks (pretzels, peanut butter, a plum, a banana, a small salad, sliced peppers). By logging everything ahead of time, I make sure that I meet my calorie goal but don't exceed it.
  • MommaChocoLatte
    MommaChocoLatte Posts: 389 Member
    I work 3rd also.. my shift is 2130-0600. Generally, I will try to eat dinner before I leave and take a whole bunch of small options with me. My 'lunch' is at 0230, so I usually need snacks in between. If I wake up late and dont have time to eat a real meal before I leave, I make a fruit/yogurt smoothie. But I always pack a ton of healthy snacks because I work in a warehouse full of food where my husband is the Inventory Manager and there is always junk floating around the office.

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