What do you bring to eat?

[NightNerd, MSN, RN]

Or do you order out?

I'll be starting nursing school next summer, and will be picking up 12-hour shifts (days) as a CNA in October. I'm trying to figure out a way to either bring food to work and not be bored with the same thing every day, or budget to order out without getting anything too unhealthy or expensive.

So, what do y'all like to eat, if you get to eat at all?

[amoLucia]

BROWN BAG IT! I don't think you'll have the budget for frequent order-outs, and time to eat will always be an issue.

Personally, I always found ordering out not to be worth the time & effort. You never are able to put in a solo order, so somebody has to take the group orders, collect the money (assuming everybody pays up front and then, who needs change). I always liked the schlep "who'll pay when the order comes". Oh yeah!!! Does everyone chip in for the tip? Again, oh yeah!!! And then, somebody has to go to the front office (unless the deli delivers to the floor, but most admin frown on that) or else they page & page & page. Oh, and did that schlep ever pay??

Then after food is delivered .... there's wrong orders, everybody can't all leave at the same time, food gets cold... ad nauseam!

Once in a blue moon, I'd order an egg roll, or mozzerella sticks, something simple if somebody asks me to join in. But I'd rather pass on all the dramatic chaos.

Buy yourself a nice little thermal lunch bag (or get one for Chirstmas, birthday, etc). The nite before, put in a couple bottles chilled water, a nice sandwich you've made or some leftovers, add some fruit or/or veggies, or cheesestix. Grab a LeanCuisine in the morning if

nec. Some crackers, portioned Cheerios, choc Chex, etc are good to nibble instead of hitting the candy machine. (I've just discovered frozen grapes - I guess you could bag them into a baggie of ice.)

There's been other posts here on AN for more ideas. Good munching!

[mustlovepoodles, RN]

I work in a school. Even though lunch is only $3.50, that translates to $17.50/week or $70/month. Some of the staff orders out, but that's even more expensive at about $7 a pop. Since I don't want to part with that much money I just bring my own lunch. I bring leftovers, soup & crackers, big salad or a sandwich, plus at least 1 fruit, often 2. The microwave is my friend. My one concession is buying a Diet Coke which I sip on pretty much all day.

[turnforthenurse, MSN, NP]

I usually bring leftovers or I will make a sandwich or bring a Lean Cuisine. I will also bring things like yogurt, fruit & string cheese to snack on. And I always need to bring my coffee! I work nights and during the weekdays they will sometimes have food for us downstairs (leftovers from the cafeteria) but I try not to get food from there too much because cost adds up. And for whatever reason we don't receive our employee discount on nights like we do on days...

Oh, and if you don't already have one, crock pots are your friend! Great for the nursing lifestyle..just throw in whatever and let it cook all night while you sleep so you will have a nice meal to bring to work during the day. You could also let it cook during the daytime while you work and come home to dinner! Also great for having leftovers. I love mine

[aachavez]

Whichever way you go, at least bring some snacks. I always keep on hand (especially in my clinical bag, I found I was doing lots of heavy physical work, and definetly needed a good boost) snacks, easy and preferably don't require refrigeration. Crackers, protein drink, yogurt, fruit, trail mix, chips, granola bar etc. A good mid morning/afternoon snack really saved me on those 12 hour shifts.

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

I cook every other day. Pastas, veggies, smoothies, stir fry, chicken with veggies and rice, granola, yogurt, fruit, applesauce, nuts, whatever leftovers I have. I like to eat healthy and often working nights. Ordering out is costly, too.

[reagansm]

Like the first respondent said: brown bag it as much as possible. Ordering out is ridiculous, hospital food will get expensive, and your lunch break is not long enough to warrant spending half of it going to get food.

Buy a bunch of Lean Cuisines for when you need to grab something fast.

Leftovers

The occasional sandwich

Fruit and yogurt

bag up your own snacks: I like to mix up almonds, life cereal, dried blueberries, and chocolate chips.

Bottles or cans of diet coke, because vending machines are to high

I have to have a mid morning snack because if I eat breakfast at 6 or 6:30 I am going to be hungry around 10, and starving by the time I can leave for lunch.

These suggestions also, fit for clinical. Often in clinical I could not leave for lunch until around 2. This is my last semester and my clinical is night shift, I am still working on how that is going to work out.

[chevyv, BSN, RN]

I bring whatever left overs I have but call Jimmy Johns when I'm sick of eating my own cooking. I also snack on nuts that I can hide in my pocket as we can't eat at the nurses' station. We all do, we just hide it. Coke is my drink of choice at supper and water at all other times. I'm lucky to get a full lunch although I always take a few minutes for a couple of bites.