What do you eat at 5am for breakfast?

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I just started nursing school this week, and I have to eat my breakfast around 5am before class. During clinical it will be even earlier. My problem is that I have a hard time eating anything so early in the morning, especially when I am tired, stressed, and in a hurry! So far the only thing I can really eat is yogurt, and I'm worried that it won't be substantial for a long day on my feet at the hospital. I even bought sliced Hawaiian bread to "trick" myself into eating! And I am definitely NOT someone who avoids eating, so this problem is completely new to me. Please help! What are your favorites?

Specializes in Pediatrics.

I've been a cereal or oatmeal person for as long as I can remember. However, now that I've been getting up at 5:30a, I can't seem to bring myself to eat something like that. So, to be sure I'm getting some energy I have been eating plain yogurt with either blueberries or a cut up fresh peach. One day I had a piece of whole grain toast with peanut butter, as well. A few days I had coffee, and yesterday I didn't. At about 9:30a I bring with me a small canister of some kind of nut mix with some dried fruit and munch on that or a banana, depending on how I'm feeling. Lunch is veggie heavy with the starch varied between brown rice or wheat pasta with some kind of protein. I've been in the habit of fixing lunch everyday while I was working, so this isn't a big stretch. I also have been throwing a granola bar or fruit/nut bar in my bag, as well in case afternoon session runs late. Small frequent meals may get you through it if you can't bring yourself to eat something heavy in the morning.

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Thanks! Those are excellent suggestions! I will some to see what works the best for me. :)

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Specializes in Pediatrics.
I usually eat around 5:30 on clinical days. It's 12 hours, and while we do get time for lunch I never know when I'll get it. I'm diabetic (though on a pump so have more flexibility) so I go for protein and fiber. I'm a big fan of PB&J on whole wheat bread....or a bowl of Cheerios. Either way a full serving of milk which keeps my BS level happy. It depends on how much time I have. A big mug of coffee and Nature Valley granola bars come with me. I keep a box in my car....that way if I'm getting the "hey it's your diabetes coming to screw with you!" feeling I can duck into a staff room and munch some granola..

I'm diabetic as well, and on the pump, have you had any incidents where you were the actual patient class? Unexpectedly my sugar dropped to 38 in class the other day while we were doing assessments. My nurses were great caretakers. :nurse:

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Specializes in LTC, Psych, Hospice.

Honey Wheat bagel and a glass of milk then cup of java for the ride in.

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I started classes and clincal too this week - waking up 5:30 in the morning though!

I'm a morning person - I like to have bigger breakfasts and smaller lunches.

So for breakfast I like to have two eggs over easy with a slice of cheese put over them and then placed on English Muffins. So two egg sandwiches with hot sauce on them - yummz!

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Specializes in Pediatric Hem/Onc.
I'm diabetic as well, and on the pump, have you had any incidents where you were the actual patient class? Unexpectedly my sugar dropped to 38 in class the other day while we were doing assessments. My nurses were great caretakers. :nurse:

I tell every instructor that I'm a pumper. In one of my prereqs I was giving myself a bolus and the instructor later sent me a nasty email about being on cell phones during class :rolleyes: I find life is easier when I disclose that info.

Fortunately I almost always get signs of a hypo moment approaching. My hearing always goes weird, like I need to pop my ears. It's weird , I know! But accurate :D My muscles feel like they're quivering, as if I've been running up and down stairs for a while. I also tend to freak out if it feels like people are making a big fuss over me. I'd rather slip off, eat something, and sit quietly till the moment passes. Otherwise I might start crying and get irrational lol The one time it happened during lecture (ironically during a discussion about diabetes) the class flipped out more than I did. I realized something was off, checked myself....and my nosy neighbor exclaims, "Oh no, Shannon's blood sugar is only 62!"

I was so done with her.

Luckily, our instructor is also diabetic so she calmed the mob down while I left to grab some milk and graham crackers. I had no intention of leaving. My plan was to suck on some lifesavers (ooh that's another good buy - the big ones that are wrapped individually) till break, then go get a snack. It DID lead to an interesting talk when I came back 10 minutes later. Our instructor said "okay Shannon.....as the patient, what did your nurse do wrong?" and I said "freak out more than I did!"

:lol2:

Now whenever I test myself, I shield it from everyone else. Lesson learned!

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Hi, I was following a diet that called for a recipe called vegetable quiche. I'm never a breakfast eater but I followed the diet and these were easy to whip together in a big batch and then freeze. They are eggs, (egg substitute), vegetables chopped (in this case some froz/or fresh spinach) and a little shred cheese (low fat). I'd pop two of those in the microwave to defrost/heat and have w/a glass of tomato or v8 juice and I have to say they really did stay w/me...It can get old after a while if this is all you ate of course, but w/some other suggestions it might work. According to the theory, you don't get the fruit/sugar boost and drop w/this meal. I'm whipping these up tomorrow to last me a couple weeks. I start NS Monday, but I've been up that early for years for my job.

Kim

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It seems that all these suggestions would send you to the bathroom with a HUGE BM!! OMG!!:eek: Bananas and yogurt??? I could never!! :eek: I have never taken a BM in a public bathroom. My body won't let me. I am a coffee fanatic. I drink 2 cups of Espresso in the morning. Eating that early would absolutely make me :barf02:I have to say as your body adjusts to being up and spending energy that early in the morning, your desire to refuel will adjust. Carrying a granola bar or something with some substance like crackers and cheese would work for me.

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Specializes in ICU.

I usually have something very light (like toast or a small bowl of cereal) and then take a snack to clinical with me. I usually would get a chance to scarf it down around 10am...after all the 9am meds were finished and charted. Even though I loooove breakfast, I just can't eat a lot of food that early in the morning...snacks help! Usually my snack would be a granola bar or almonds and currants...nothing fancy.

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I'll either have a V8, V8 fusion, or a banana. On one of our 5-10 minute breaks I'll have a Cliff Kid's Z bar or a Fiber 1 bar (any type like that really). I drink a lot of water all day so usually I'm not starving till 12-1. It'd probably be better do do an english muffin/banana/peanut butter if you have trouble staying full and like that combo. I just wake up to late to do anything but grab and go.

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Specializes in ER, progressive care.

I hate eating in the morning - I would much rather eat at 6pm than at 6am! I always feel sick to my stomach when I eat the morning but I force myself to anyway.

I try to switch it up - in the fall/winter I usually opt for 1/2cup of oatmeal with 2/3cup (sometimes more) of soy milk and I put a spoonful of peanut butter in it for protein. I usually eat a banana with it.

I also like making a peanut butter-banana-honey sandwich on toasted wheat bread or a toasted wheat english muffin. I will also make a "makeshift" english mcmuffin by poaching an egg - this isn't the *correct* way but I fill a very small pot with about an 1-1 1/2in of water, bring it to a boil then drop an egg right in and let it cook for about 3-5min. I cook it all the way so it's like a hardboiled egg. Put that on a toasted whole-wheat english muffin, put a slice of cheese (I try to opt for reduced sodium or reduced fat cheese...otherwise I usually just throw half a slice of regular cheese) and then a slice of deli meat - ham is the norm but I have used smoked turkey and it is still delicious. I'll also eat this with a banana or some other fruit and a small glass of soy milk.

And of course I always make some coffee to go for the ride in!

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Specializes in ER, progressive care.

Oh and another thing - scrambled eggs. I usually make about 2-3 eggs but generally make a 1 egg yolk : 1 white ratio. If I make 3 eggs, I use the whites from 2 and the yolk from only one. Scramble, season with a little salt and pepper and make some toast or toast a whole-wheat english muffin with a little bit of peanut butter. And of course banana/fruit on the side and a small glass of soy milk :)

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