Nurses General Nursing
Published Jul 8, 2013
Hi there,
I was wondering what do night nurses eat during their shift? (when they are lucky enough to enjoy couple minutes of dinner time) If I would look at your lunch-bag what kind of snacks could I find in there?
Kunzieo
199 Posts
12h nights:
1815: A Greek yogurt in the car on the way in (150 cal.)
1800-2200: Diet Coke 20oz #1
2200: a banana or string cheese or carrots and dip or a pack of animal crackers (80-160 cal)
0000-0300: Diet Coke 20oz #2
0200 : a Lean Cuisine/Healthy Choice/Kashi frozen meal (usually either the Santa Fe rice and Beans or Tortellini or Southwest style chicken) (280-310 cal)
0400: Bag of Skittles for a little pick-me-up :) (250 cal)
0300-0800: 20oz bottle water.
0800: Protein Plus Power Bar peanut butter and 20oz water for the car drive home (300 cal)
Sleep: 0900ish-1700ish. Get up, lather, rinse, repeat :)
Calorie total for the day: about 1200.
Exercise: none. I don't do "organized" workouts. I'm active at work; clean, garden, and sometimes walk my dog on my days off.
Value of the above plan:
-can all be bought at convenience store, all pre-packaged, nothing to prepare or cook.
-easy to keep track of calories (I'm the kind that very easily gains weight working nights)
Possible downsides:
-All pre-packaged foods. I'm not too picky about what chemicals go in my body/ environmental impact etc. but I know some people are.
-some people might say there is too much Diet Coke in the above "menu." Obviously, I disagree :) and I don't drink coffee.
-some people also might argue with my lack of an exercise plan. Again, I disagree. It works for me.
BuckRN
55 Posts
I never get to eat at the same time each night. Sometimes eating a meal just doesn't happen, so I always bring string cheese and almonds to snack on. Also, I can't work out after my shift because then I have a hard time sleeping.
weirdscience
254 Posts
I forgot my nightly Diet Coke! I find I crave coffee way less working at night, but I do drink a 20 oz. Diet Coke each night, only on the nights I work. I also bring a 20 oz. sport water bottle which I try to refill at least once during my shift.
joanna73, BSN, RN
4,767 Posts
I just made chicken cacciatore. I also have berries, oatmeal, cheese and two hard boiled eggs. Every night when I wake up, I start the day with a fruit and spinach smoothie.
Same as others, I make enough food for 2-3 days and have everything organized for the shifts I'm working in advance. I also like the apple sauce cups and pecans or almonds for snacks. Baked apples with cinnamon is a great snack (no butter or margarine.)
TheCommuter, BSN, RN
102 Articles; 27,612 Posts
I must be the anomaly here because while I eat at the same time as everyone else (between 11-2 usually), I always buy food in the cafeteria.
Those of us who work nights at my workplace must either pack a lunch, have something delivered to the unit from a local restaurant, or hope that a coworker has enough time to make a 'food run' to a place that's open 24 hours.
yooper13
56 Posts
I have been trying to figure this out myself, I have been working nights for about 4 months, and I think I am getting it down! Since I usually go back to a day schedule on my nights off, I try to stay up late the day before my "Monday" so I will sleep in...so I cook that night. I find a recipe (or more than one) to make, that will be good as a "leftover" lunch...usually works on both counts, I have good, nutritious lunch, and I get sleep! Other than that, I usually bring fruit/yogurt (I keep a bag of granola in my locker to mix in). Still working it out...I sometimes eat before bed in the am b/c I'm suddenly STARVING and then realize I haven't eaten much in the last 24 hrs...it's HARD to keep some sort of semblance of a schedule on nights!!!
canned_bread
351 Posts
I eat tuna sandwich for lunch/dinner. A muesli bar for a snack. And then the rest of my stomach is filled up on coffee
I also sometimes have a bag of nuts in my locker in case I get extra hungry or overtime is sprung on me.
proud nurse, BSN, RN
556 Posts
I bring stuff like crackers (cheez its, wheat thins, goldfish), granola bar, a piece of fruit, 2 of those crystal light packets for my water, and a frozen dinner, soup or a microwave ravioli. I work 12 hour shifts on weekends only. I don't drink coffee.
linzjane88
124 Posts
Their young!