How to fit my calories in while teaching

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  • tigersword
    tigersword Posts: 8,059 Member
    When I was teaching I was a huge advocate of bringing my own lunch.
    I would prepare a HUGE batch of chicken salad and split it into different Tupperware containers so it would last a few days, put a sticky note with the calories so i could log it, and grab it in the morning heading out the door. You can do this with whatever protein you want too, get creative! When I do my 'salads' they all turn out around 500-ish calories.
    I also supplemented my hunger by means of fiber bars because they filled me up for a decent amount of time.
    Please feel free to contact me with recipes or on the go tips!

    I did forget to mention that I am gluten and grain free, so a lot of breakfast cereals, bars, oatmeal, etc, are off my radar. I do really enjoy Greek Yogurt with blueberries, pecans and honey. That is a fantastic breakfast food, and I eat it at least three times a week.

    I guess it's just making the time to eat, when I need to eat. Isn't it a pity that our work sometimes comes before our health? That seems wrong to me.

    Work is easy to plan around. There's no reason for you to eat 500 snacks a day if it doesn't fit your life. Eat a bigger breakfast before work, and a decent sized lunch, simple. Health has absolutely nothing to do with how often you eat.
  • alikat42
    alikat42 Posts: 213 Member
    I teach middle school as well, but am blessed with a schedule that makes recharging (and snacking!) a breeze. Barring that, though, I think everyone else is on point: bigger breakfast, bigger lunch.
  • CrazyTrackLady
    CrazyTrackLady Posts: 1,337 Member
    I TRY to get my snack in during planning time. BUT, I always get distracted and end up taking care of several different things at once (for example, today I had every intention of sitting down to eat my 5 strawberries I brought in, but ended up planning a mass instead). I just need to make it a priority to take a moment to eat.
  • court617
    court617 Posts: 65
    I teach high school... I'm lucky enough to get my conference period early (8:30) and usually eat enough to get me until about 11. I eat oatmeal, hard boiled eggs, yogurt w/ strawberries or any combination of those. Around 11:15, before 5th period I grab a granola bar to save me until lunch at 12:30. For lunch I do either tuna salad or pasta that I've made the night before...with some snacks (fruit cup, cheese and apple, PB and either crackers or celery) Then another granola bar right after school to save me until dinner. I eat a lot of granola bars to keep the hunger away and it helps with me meet calorie goals. And I love cheese... I end up with babybel lights, string cheese and pepperjack bars from target at some point during the day. Probably not great, but I love it.

    Oatmeal seems to help fill the morning calorie slot. I sometimes tend to sit around at night thinking of snacks because I'm not quite at the calories I need to be, but I try to be mindful of that during the day. My second period conference helps a lot.

    I wish you liked hard boiled eggs! Haha... they're so quick and easy! That reminds me, I need to make some for the rest of the week! I hope you get it all figured out!
  • alikat42
    alikat42 Posts: 213 Member
    I TRY to get my snack in during planning time. BUT, I always get distracted and end up taking care of several different things at once (for example, today I had every intention of sitting down to eat my 5 strawberries I brought in, but ended up planning a mass instead). I just need to make it a priority to take a moment to eat.

    A ha! Now you've gotten to the heart of being a teacher! There are always and will always be a million important things that need to be tended to. However, you've got to make your health and well being a priority. There is a balance to be found. For me, I've found that it means going to school very early (6am), eating breakfast while I tend to emails and grades. Snacking during team time. My lunch time is sacred: no kids, no work, just a meal and some quiet. Work like a demon during plan time and out the door and to the gym as soon as the busses roll.
  • CrazyTrackLady
    CrazyTrackLady Posts: 1,337 Member
    Thank you all for your wonderful advice! I am going to work on eating more for breakfast, lunch and after school. I am also going to ask my principal if I can have the kids bring in healthy snacks -- since they are doing a project on fast food and I think a healthy snack will go over well with them (they don't eat until 12:15.
  • JaclynnGail
    JaclynnGail Posts: 204 Member
    That stinks about the "no eating in class" policy. I enjoy two clementines and a cup of coffee every morning at 10:30 right in front of my 2nd graders. They think it's really funny how I eat the same thing every day at the same time...and they never complain because they know that, when the clementines get broken out, it means recess is right around the corner. You really are going to just have to make yourself eat more during your other meals and during your plan time. If you pack the right kind of snack, you should be able to work while you eat it, I would think.
  • JadeRabbit08
    JadeRabbit08 Posts: 551 Member
    I am a student and some days I have lectures most of the day with no real break until the afternoon. There is no fridge at the uni for me to put a lunch in anyway. Problem is compounded by a gluten and dairy intolerance.

    So I started increasing calories at breakfast..by alot! I skip all the traditional cereal stuff and have dinner at breakfast instead.
    More than half my calorie intake occurs at breakfast its made things alot easier during the day as then I can make do with a snack pack of almonds/brazil nuts and dried cranberries which goes in my pocket.

    It is more of a time commitment in the morning but I I have adjusted to the larger meal and I am surprised how much my body seems to like it. (Ive been a lifelong breakfast light eater/skipper)

    Edited to add bananas are your friend
  • normanmac
    normanmac Posts: 34
    The simplest way to do this is eat more for breakfast. Eat some fruit on the drive to work - think banana -
    have pnut butter banana toast?

    Weird about the no eating in class policy...my students all want/need snack in the morning and some in the afternoon...especially with the 11:30 lunch and dismissal @ 3:45 those little ones want a snack. One of the teachers I work with has a fruit protein shake each day and just sticks it in one of those non-see through cups with a blue straw - the kids have no idea what is in there...she even keeps the blender in her room!
  • mygrl4meee
    mygrl4meee Posts: 943 Member
    The whole snacking during class thing is very new to me. My first son who is five years older than my second son was never encouraged to bring a snack to class. As my second son got older and the lunch time got pushed until later the teacher told all the kids that they can bring a healthy snack. I know this is off topic but I believe this was the start of my son wanting to eat all the time and have an issue with food. It would just freak if we didn't have what he wanted for snack and if we just forgot to buy something. The teacher tried to make sure the kids brought healthy snacks and at times we thought her version of healthy and our version was different. I personally would rather the school handle snacks if they insist by having the parents pay weekly for fruit or something else healthy to be passed out. But even that could cause an issue for the parents who refused to pay or provide a snack.
  • tigersword
    tigersword Posts: 8,059 Member
    We NEVER had snacks during school when I was a student. You ate at lunch, that was it.
  • jerber160
    jerber160 Posts: 2,607 Member
    really, I'm a pharmacist. during a 12 hour shift there is no lunch break.. you eat when there are no customers. since most of us hate getting caught with pizza cheese hanging from our chins we've taken to wolfing down food before the next customer comes to the counter. it's not ideal but it's the reality. SHOVE A STRAWBERRY in your mouth.... there's no time to sit at a table, lay out a napkin, set a fork beside it, open a lid, arrange berries on a plate, add a sprig of mint, cross your legs and nibble. Get the job done.
  • beckajw
    beckajw Posts: 1,728 Member
    As was previously said, there is no need to eat snacks. You won't drop into starvation mode in a couple of hours. Many of us have jobs where we can't eat snacks.

    You could always eat a bigger breakfast and lunch.

    If you really want to eat a snack, there is no reason you can't do so, unless the school has a rule against it. If you are going to do so, you should allow the children in that class to eat a snack too. You are absolutely right, it would be rude for you to eat in front of the children and not allow them the same courtesy.
  • dad106
    dad106 Posts: 4,868 Member
    mmmm.....not to be mean, but its called;
    Breakfast
    Lunch
    Dinner
    good for you if you can do it.. I want to eat constantly.... maybe every hour or hour and a half... this three meals thing is crap...

    Not if you eat enough during breakfast, lunch and dinner. Key is getting enough protein to help keep you full.

    I'm a teachers aid... I eat a big breakfast(egg, bacon and toast normally), a big lunch(Sandwhich, yogurt, fruit, and something crunchy) and dinner after the gym. I never snack, and do just fine on 3 meals a day.

    To OP:
    Like others have said, eat a bigger breakfast/lunch.

    As I stated above, I'm a teachers aid.. and I eat my breakfast around 6-6:30, lunch around 11:30 and dinner around 5:30-6. If you get enough protein at all meals, you will feel full without having to run for a snack constantly.
  • darrensurrey
    darrensurrey Posts: 3,942 Member
    Dunno if this has been mentioned but what about a thick fruit smoothie?
  • CMB1979
    CMB1979 Posts: 588 Member
    I teach also. I bring a bag with either almonds, prunes, an orange, etc. and I eat it quickly in the short 5-10 min breaks we have in the day. If I didn't get a break, I'd teach a short lesson on nutrition and tell the students about my goals and tell them that they'll see me eat a snack sometimes.

    Of course...all this is based on the notion that you are wanting to eat 5-6 smaller meals instead of the usual B,L,D squares.
  • cygnetpro
    cygnetpro Posts: 419 Member
    Now, I work with kids one-on-one, but I DO eat in front of them. I sometimes offer them some as well. I keep granola bars on hand, but some days I bring an orange or a cheese stick, or even green peppers. I don't go crazy about it and make a meal of it, but while the student is working on something, I will quietly eat a cheese stick or something. Another idea if you feel strongly about it is maybe a protein drink? Put it in your coffee cup and sip at it. Good luck!
  • cygnetpro
    cygnetpro Posts: 419 Member
    And I agree with the other posters that you probably don't need to worry about "starvation mode". I just find that I have to eat breakfast so early that I'm ravenous by about 9:30-10 am, and feel like I need something. Plus, my stomach growls embarrassingly. :-)
  • CrazyTrackLady
    CrazyTrackLady Posts: 1,337 Member
    Update:

    I pulled the trigger and decided I will allow the kids to bring in snacks (they don't eat lunch until later in the day), but with strict snack boundaries. I'm not going to play snack cop, so I said "I you want to eat something other than what I am asking you to bring in, bring it in for lunch."

    The good news is that I gave them a list of things to choose from, so they should all be able to bring something in if they want. If they don't want to, that's their choice as well.

    I will probably have some extra snacks on hand in case someone doesn't remember.
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