Pocket Snacks for 12 Hour Shift?

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Tele, Dialysis, Hospice.

I just started a new job working three 12 hour shifts a week. I love the job, but sometimes it requires us to go several hours between having anything to eat, and, while I'm not diabetic or anything, I am someone who gets nauseous when I get really hungry, which I do between breaks on this job. I can deal with plain, old hunger, it's the nausea and it can be distracting if it is bad enough. If I eat even something tiny it works to hold me over and relieve the hunger/nausea until I can go on break.

Does anyone else have this problem, and if so, can you recommend some little something that I can carry with me to hold me over and alleviate the hunger/nausea between breaks? Healthy, small, portable...something I can basically carry with me and pop into my mouth if I step off the floor for a second and then come right back. Picture carrying individually wrapped hard candies in your pocket; something that neat, quick and portable, only not unhealthy like candy.

I know it's a tall order, but does anyone have any ideas? I love my job but I don't want to end up feeling sick when I'm there.

I like granola bars. They sell bite sized granola, or you can cut a bar into pieces and put in a small zip top bag. There are also many different types of crackers you could get. Dried fruit, beef jerky or slim jim. Anything you like to eat could be cut into bite sized pieces and wrapped by you.

Specializes in Med/Surg, Tele, Dialysis, Hospice.

Great suggestions! Thanks so much, kind of embarrassed I didn't think of that myself. :)

Specializes in ER/Tele, Med-Surg, Faculty, Urgent Care.

PBJ with Swiss cheese cut in small pieces. Almonds. Juice boxes.

Specializes in dealing w/code browns and blues.

I get migraines if I go too long without food.

I carry granola bars, almonds, trail mix, carrots (they taste ok at room temp), a banana, or even a chocolate square in a pinch. I've also done a peanut butter sandwich but I wear a lab coat so my pockets are bigger. You may not be able to carry a picnic around. [emoji13]

Specializes in ER/Tele, Med-Surg, Faculty, Urgent Care.

i'm picturing a fishing vest stuffed with food!🤗

Specializes in Critical Care, Med-Surg, Psych, Geri, LTC, Tele,.

Baby carrots in a zip lock Baggie. You can sanitize your hands and then use the plastic as a "glove" to further protect your food from getting contaminated.

Baby bell cheese also comes in its own wax wrapper so you don't have to touch it.

I've stored a bagels half with peanut butter and placed it in my pocket also. Again, using the plastic so I can eat on the go.

You could cut up small pieces of fruit and place it in a hard plastic container to eat with a fork. (Strawberry quarters, blue berries, diced pineapple are all easy to eat with a fork)

Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

Any portable snack that goes into my mouth must have a semi-decent protein count. Hence, my go-to-snacks are peanuts, string cheese, beef jerky, and protein bars.

Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

Raisins, apples, hard boiled eggs, cheese strings, nuts, raw veggies.

Specializes in IMCU, Oncology.

I take a protein shake and drink it between breakfast and lunch. I find this really helps me!

Specializes in Med/Surg, Tele, Dialysis, Hospice.

Thanks for all of the great suggestions, I will definitely use these ideas in the future, starting on Monday. :)

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