Healthy Clinical Lunch?

Nursing Students General Students

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lately i've been really struggling with ideas on what to bring to clinical for lunch. aside from the regular sandwich or salad, what are some things that you all pack for lunch? i find that after eating breakfast around 5:30-6am (our clinical starts at 8am), i'm really starving by 12 noon.

i also should probably mention that i try to keep my meals healthy and i'm not big on junk food.

thanks! :)

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Have you tried eating your breakfast closer to the time you start clinical? Maybe 7am?

You could take some chicken lasange or leftovers from a healthy meal, you just have to pack one of those cooling blocks so it doesn't go rank, or heat it in a microwave if one's available.

But it's an interesting subject, students/nurses eating healthy. YOu should see the crap they serve in the hospital cafe where I am!

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Specializes in Day program consultant DD/MR.

Apples and peanut butter, Yogurt with fresh or frozen fruit, instead of sandwiches to vary try roll ups using flour tortillas.

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I try and eat healthy, and save money. I suggest buying those little containers for dressings, puddingsand such and also a small cold pack (if you don't have these already of course)

Snacks: Trail mix, pretzels, Peanut butter and celery, or lowfat ranch, carrot stix and a dip, grapes de-stemed and washed, orange pre-peeled, yougurt, dry cereal, apple sauce, pudding, jello, salsa and chips

Meals:

*Quesidillas with chicken and low fat cheese on a whole wheat tortilla

*whole wheat bread, turkey, mayo, cheese, lettuce and tomato

*whole wheat bread, peanut butter and jelly

*salad-made the night before with grilled chicken and all the things you like w/ dressing on the side

*left overs from the night before

*Pasta salad

*Egg salad (maybe not the healthiest thing)

*Tuna salad, sandwhich, with crackers....

Thats all I can really think of, hope I helped!

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I like to eat those soup at hands and oyster crackers.

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Specializes in LTC, subacute CNA.

It's tough! I wind up eating in the car because I have to book it back to campus for lecture. I usually do peanut butter and jelly (both all natural stuff, no sugar added) on whole wheat bread (Arnold Double Fiber). Add a banana and it's a fairly healthy lunch, and easy to eat on the run. Gets a little boring after a while, though.

Other mini meals I like to bring with me to class, that might work for clinical: low fat cottage cheese and fruit, hard-boiled eggs, low sodium V8, low fat string cheese, All Bran crackers,yogurt, almonds (raw, unsalted), soy nuts, sliced apples with almond butter, oranges, trail mix, Kashi Tasty Little Chewies, South Beach Diet meal bars (lotsa protein).

Do you get to take a break during clinical? A little snack might help you from being so famished by noon.

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Specializes in ICU, Med/Surg, Tele.

I have my preceptorship night shift..but i bring a lean cuisine for like 3am to keep me going..

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thanks for all the wonderful suggestions so far! since i'm on spring break this week, i'll be sure to add these to my shopping list so i'm ready for clinical the following week.

and we do not get a break on the floor, at least not one where we're allowed to grab a quick bite to eat.

thanks again!

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I take pretty much the same thing every day to clinicals...

On Sunday night, I make a big pot of Whole Wheat Pasta with vegetables. After it is done cooking, I portion the pasta into individual tupperware containers. Each night, when I am getting my stuff ready for the next day, I grab one of the containers and a piece of fruit and some raisins, or whatever I feel like putting in a lunch. While I do end up eating pasta with vegetables everyday for lunch, I do have some variety as far as what fruit I take. Its soooooo cheap, considering the box of whole wheat pasta is $0.78 from Walmart and I throw in a bag of steamed veggies. Very healthy, filling lunch!

and don't forget the coffee!

(this is what my clinical group looks like in the mornings -----> :smilecoffeeIlovecof

the psych hospital we are in now so graciously gives us free coffee, all you can drink!)

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I hear ya, our clinical starts at 6:30am and we are not allowed to bring anything in with us, not even lunch. We have a cafeteria but the food is really gross, I have been trying to think of what I can pack in my clip board.

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Specializes in OB, NP, Nurse Educator.

Why aren't you allowed to take your lunch to clinical? That is stupid on the school's part.

You could take prepacked peanut butter crackers or cheese crackers in your clipboard. Or a handful of nuts and raisins in a zip loc baggie.

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Specializes in ICU.

I usually make sure I bring tons of food so I do not go hungry because 12 hours is a loooong time if you're hungry!

I like to make turkey sandwiches on whole wheat with tomato, lettuce, etc. If I am pressed for time, I go for the peanut butter sandwich. Never fails to please.

For snacks, I always have my Stonyfield Farms yogurt (highly recommended) and a bag of popcorn. I pop a big batch of popcorn (on the stove, old fashioned way) at the beginning of the week and this makes a great nutritious snack. I usually have a bag of grapes or any other fruit that I purchase that week.

Also, if you cook at home, definitely don't leave out leftovers! A nice pot of chili goes a long way and is easy to warm up in the cafe microwave.

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