Meal planning for day shift (breakfast and lunch)

Nurses Stress 101

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Specializes in adult psych, LTC/SNF, child psych.

I am getting ready to go back to a day shift job and am looking for help with meal planning. I am not normally a breakfast person but I know if and when you get a lunch at work can be variable. I have a bit of a commute so I'll probably nibble on my way to work - but on what? I do not want to eat before I leave the house because that's another 15-30 minutes earlier for me to wake up.

For lunch, I've honestly been packing Lunchables pizzas, a pudding or yogurt and a soda. I know, I eat like an 8 year old. I like routine but I'm not interested in packing PB&Js every day. Is it easier to just graze/snack as possible? Last time I was working 7-3, I felt like I hardly even took a lunch (was working in LTC/SNF), so I just know what I did when I was working in management. Am I overthinking this?

Specializes in psych/dementia.

Breakfast is really important and it doesn't take that long to cook up some eggs. How far is your commute/what time are you getting up that 15-30 minutes to get in a healthy breakfast seems like too much?

As for lunch, sandwiches, wraps, leftovers, etc. are all things I've taken.

I work from my car and I live on raw almonds, string cheese, Kind bars and fresh fruit.

Specializes in adult psych, LTC/SNF, child psych.
Breakfast is really important and it doesn't take that long to cook up some eggs. How far is your commute/what time are you getting up that 15-30 minutes to get in a healthy breakfast seems like too much?

As for lunch, sandwiches, wraps, leftovers, etc. are all things I've taken.

My morning commute is ~45 minutes to an hour. I am used to a 10-15 minute commute.

I like strawberry poptarts, not toasted, on the way to work. It's quick, cheap and easy. I also put cereal in a ziplock bag and munch on that. I'm not much of a breakfast person but those are my two go-to's.

I was hooked on cereal bars for a while but that gets old really fast. Fruit first thing in the morning makes me nauseated, I'm not much of a morning person in general.

I HAVE to have coffee. It's non-negotiable.

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

When I worked morning shift, I'd pack a lunch that I could eat around 9 (when I became hungry)

Sometimes I'd pack oatmeal in a container that kept it warm. But my "oatmeal" was actually steel cut oats with dry cranberries, cinnamon, brown sugar or maple syrup and chopped walnuts.

Sometimes I'd pack a bagel with all natural peanut butter.

I recall not having a real break to eat often. I'd just eat a few bites when I had a moment.

Sometimes I'd pack "tofu eggs" which was fried tofu with veggies, sunflower seeds, and seasonings. I could eat that cold or warm. Again, I'd eat it as I had time, a few bites at a time.

When I was "lucky", my partner would pack a burrito wrap for me In foil. It wasn't super healthy, but okay. He'd scramble eggs, fry potatoes and add turkey bacon and cheese and sausage. This would be wrapped in foil so I could easily transport it and eat when I had time.

Specializes in peds, allergy-asthma, ob/gyn office.

protein bar, pre-peeled boiled egg that was done the night before. whole grain crackers and hummus, string cheese.

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