What do you eat for breakfast?

[Ioreth]

I hate breakfast. More to the point, I hate mornings and the last thing I want to do is cook something. Unfortunately, eating little to no breakfast is incompatible with nursing school. Too often, I find myself ravenous or shaky from too low blood sugar with lunch still hours away. This happens most often during 12 hour clinicals that start at 6:30 AM. I've looked into breakfast burritos, but the ones I've made at home don't heat evenly and the ones from the store are too salty. What do you eat for breakfast to keep your energy going until lunchtime?

Edit: Because we're supposed to be critical thinkers, I wanted to add that I've been screened for diabetes mellitus and everything is fine in that department. I just don't eat enough breakfast most of the time.

[RNrhythm, BSN, RN]

My typical 12-hour work day nutrition:

- 0600: 3 boiled eggs with a little soy sauce and half a cup of nonfat milk in a very large travel mug with coffee. Head off to work.

- 1000: Low carb protein bar in my pocket, more coffee, usually while charting.

- Whenever I get my lunch: I always pack my lunch (high protein, low simple carbs, tabasco or salsa).

- Afternoon or drive home: Always a banana plus an apple or an orange.

If I work 2 or 3 days in a row I pack my food all at once. Whole fruit is great for commuting. It will wake you up and stop me from being ravenous when I get home. Makes drive-thru easier to resist.

[sasera]

Another vote for smoothies here. You can make one the night before and just grab it on the way out the door. I use bananas, frozen pineapple, spinach, and coconut/almond milk. I used to only drink coffee but recently developed really bad jitters. Another thing I do is prep cut up veggies with a container of hummus or peanut butter to snack on when I get a break. Also, protein balls (The Protein Ball Co. or Betty Lou's, both from Amazon) are pretty good. A bit expensive, but they are a good grab-n-go.

[vintagemother, BSN, CNA, LVN, RN]

When I was a student, in clinicals, I often packed pocket meals. Anything I could stuff in my pocket and eat on the fly was fair game. Be it Belvitas, or peanut butter on whole grain toast in a zip lock.

As a working nurse, "breakfast" is almost always a boiled egg or an egg white muffin with veggies. Occasionally a smoothie made of high protein, high fiber food.

Plus, always coffee with soy milk-protein matters!

[HIPAAPotamus, BSN, RN]

I too hate breakfast, but have to force myself to eat before clinicals. I'm also using My Fitness Pal to drop some weight, and it yells at me if I don't eat breakfast. I generally pre-boil a bunch of eggs, and have small, handy things I can grab (an apple, a granola bar, etc).

If I'm feeling really luxurious with time, I pour a bowl of cottage cheese and watch a little TV.

My clinical starts at 0645, so I find that I'm peckish by 1030. I usually pack a protein bar to get me through that phase.

[Esnooopy, BSN, MSN, DNP, RN, NP]

I start the day with one or two almond milk lattes. It's not food but it's somewhat filling and gives me the caffeine/hot drink I need to start the day. Bring stuff along to eat easily and quickly when you feel like you need more: bananas, cheese sticks, hummus, single serving peanut butter.

PS if you had diabetes your blood sugar would be high. A diabetic whose blood sugar dropped too low would be from taking insulin (or, less likely, their oral DM meds) and not balancing it with enough food....

[Munch]

Special K makes protein shakes that come in 4 packs that you can get from the grocery store. They are packed with protein and fiber plus have a lot of vitamins in them. They are already made so all you have to do is grab it from the fridge and go. They are very filling and you can hang onto it and drink it when you are actually hungry instead of cooking something and eating it right away even if you aren't hungry because it will get cold. The shakes run about 5-6.00 for a pack for 4..pretty reasonable considering how nutritious and filling they are.

[BookishBelle]

I can't function without breakfast- I get SO crabby! If I have time I tear a little hole in the middle of my 12 grain bread and throw it in s frying pan medium with a little oil and butter. Crack an egg into the hole, grind some pepper on. After I turn over the egg bread I put a slice of sharp cheddar over the top to melt and go finish plunging my French press coffee. Something about the crispy combo of protein, carb and fat keeps me happy fairly long. If not enough time I bring a Greek yogurt, peanut butter toast or protein bar in the car with me. On days with more time I like to make old fashioned oatmeal and eat it with cottage cheese, cranberries and walnuts. My friend says you can make it the night before in the fridge, but I haven't tried it yet.

[BookishBelle]

Sorry, I accidentally re posted, and can't see if you can delete

[Suzey]

I have a cup of coffee as I'm getting ready for work (putting makeup on, doing my hair), then I bring another 20oz. mug with me to work. For food I make overnight oats before I go to bed (just Cinnamon and sugar or maple brown sugar oatmeal in a container with milk), and it's ready to eat either cold or heated up in the microwave whichever way you prefer. On mornings when I don't have oatmeal, I have a breakfast hot pocket, and when it's a dire situation I will just have a pop tart - note these are all things that are quickly prepared and I can drink or eat them on my way to work. If I'm low on groceries, I just go to Dunkin' and get a breakfast sandwich, hash browns, and coffee.

[nalie2, ADN, BSN, MSN, RN, NP]

When I know I won't have time to make breakfast I'll make it the night before.

-Overnight oats: Oatmeal, nut milk and fruit on top.

-Smoothies: I cut fruit and place into a blender then the morning of I add some nut milk, juice or water and blend it before leaving.

-Starbucks: I mobile order while getting ready for work and by the time I arrive at Starbucks it is ready to pick up.

[CardiacDork, MSN, RN]

I usually grab a greek yogurt and throw in some fresh fruit. I don't generally like to eat breakfast, so this is my compromise. It's quick and light, but keeps me full for a good while.

Walnuts fruit and drizzle of honey on my Greek yogurt. It's the only thing I can tolerate when I wake up.

[JBudd, MSN]

I often can't stomach "food" for a couple of hours after I wake up.

Slim Fast goes down fairly easily, is already made, fairly cheap, and suppresses appetite for 4 hours. I'm not dieting, but Ensure doesn't taste great, and costs more. Working nights, I don't want to get up early enough to cook, eat and clean up; I just grab a bottle and drink it on the way to work. By midnight I'm ready for real food, but settle for cafeteria night shift stuff :)