That awkward 5k and night shifts.

I have a very similar problem, I work rotating shifts up to 16 hours and usually without breaks! I like to eat nut mixes or Kind bars to help me from going crazy and making bad choices once I get out. I find a combination of fats and protein help me the most (like nuts or eggs etc)

Hi Robbins: I'm shift work too and shifts run from 7-12 hrs depending on site. My trick is to go to bed as soon as I get home and sleep my 8 hrs (earplugs & eyemask & blackout curtains) then when I get up I have my breakfast, whatever time this is (sometimes 2 pm), then treat the rest of the 'day' timewise like you normally would with lunch 4 or 5 hours later, and then dinner 4-5 hours after that. If the 'dinnertime' hits at an awkward time during my shift, I just use my snack that I brought at a more appropriate time. I like to use protein smoothie powders or bars for my snacks at work although tonight at midnight it will be two HB eggs. I also use a lot of hot herbal tea for my breaks without food - they taste good and don't add extra calories. I make sure I do NOT eat 4 hrs before I am scheduled to go to bed as I don't sleep well with a full tummy. I actually lose weight on night shift, since timing can be bad for fitting in that many meals so I just skip to my snack.