Meal planning for those long shifts....help!!!

Mulan · Oct 14, 2005

How about Caribbean Rice and Beans?

It tastes good and is good for you.

http://southernfood.about.com/od/redbearsrice/r/bl00123d.htm

This link isn't going to the right page, but the site is where I got the recipe from.

SmilingBluEyes · Oct 14, 2005

I make meals ahead and freeze them. Anything you can make for dinner, and microwave, you can bring to work and eat, as well. The possibilities are endless......such as spaghetti, stuffed peppers, chili, all manner of soups, casseroles, quesadillas, etc. I have tons of meal possiblities and recipes. Just make, freeze into individual portions and zap.

talaxandra · Oct 14, 2005

My favourite is soup, particularly mixed vegetables with legumes - whisk up a batch on my days off and freeze. I also like a baked dish, like vegie lasagna, which can be divided into portions and frozen.

My favourite work meal, which I had tonight, is 1 + 1/2 English muffins with different toppings - avocado and tuna; avocado, cottage cheese, tomato and basil; and baked beans. Fibre, legumes, low-fat dairy, fish and vegetables, in one delicious meal :)

In summer I make a big salad, with pine nuts, sprouts, capsicum, avocado, cherry tomatoes etc. Take the dressign in a little screw top jar and sprinkle in on just before eating. You can add a sliced boiled egg, tuna etc for variety and protein.

button2cute · Oct 14, 2005

Okay, I'm at a loss. I'm so sick of the normal meals that I bring to eat during those long 12 hour shifts. (sandwich, yogurt, fruit, ICK!!!...so sick of it). I need a meal makeover! What are some healthy, quick, and easy meals that I can make for work? I don't like bringing the frozen dinners b/c they have so much sodium in them...I don't need to add fuel to the fire of my already swollen feet after standing all day. So, enlighten me, and share with everyone your favorite easy and healthy meals! TIA!!!

Hello, Tia

A salad Ceaser with grill chicken or beef or tuna fish....or plain....with crackers.

Snack.....fruit or granola and a small yougurt

Sandwich....PBJ, or anything you may like

Snack fresh veggies

Indy, LPN, LVN · Oct 15, 2005

I have the same problem, only on nights, people keep bringing all sorts of goodies, so my problem is shifting from meal planning to trying not to eat myself into bigger britches, among other things.

My favorite rice dish takes 10 minutes to make before going to work and is edible cold or reheated. Success rice - the not so huge bag- stick it on the stove to boil. Cut up or grate some baby carrots into a bowl. Pour a cup or so (who measures?) of frozen peas into bowl. Cut up a slice of onion in there too. Little pat of butter... some salt, basil and lemon pepper. When rice is cooked, drain and put it in the bowl with the other stuff. Take a fork and mix thoroughly. Put food in plastic container, then in lunch box or fridge.

Sometimes I'll scramble an egg in the microwave and chop it up and stick that in the rice mixture. It's pretty good at 1am.

I also like pasta salad but since I'm so picky about my veggies, it winds up tasting very much like the rice stuff, minus the lemon pepper and with a truckload of parmesan and olive oil. It's probably not as healthy and takes a little longer to make 'cause of all the tasting.

I basically take a lot of snacks: carrots, almonds, applesauce, some of whatever I buy for my daughter's lunchbox goodies. I'm entirely too partial to slimfast chocolate chip granola bars, yogurt smoothies, and some namebrand protein drink that I like for breakfast. The name of that stuff escapes me but it's something like "omdada" or something equally silly- it's basically orange juice and banana puree and soy protein- tastes like paste if you aren't hungry but it's about a shift worth of protein, and at 6 am it tastes like heaven 'cause I'm hungry then.

Race Mom, ASN, RN · Oct 15, 2005

Something I enjoy that is quick, you can make a good amount for a quick snack or a meal is just cook some bowtie pasta, rinse with cold water until the noodles are cool/cold then add Zesty Italian dressing and sundried tomatoes (little bags are found usually in produce). The best part about it is if you have enough, it will fill you up, or you could just take a few quick bites here and there, since there is no wait for re-heating. You can add other things to it like celery slivers, olives, peppers.

Lisa

JoBug · Oct 15, 2005

I can totally relate! Me, I am a cereal eater...it fills and gives me the vitamins and energy I need..good luck

JoBug

Gompers, BSN, RN · Oct 15, 2005

I find that leftovers are the most appetizing thing to eat at work. Those are the meals where your coworkers are sniffing the air, wondering whose dinner smells so good. When I make dinner, I always make double or triple what I need. I will pack them into individual servings - I really like those three-section rubbermaid-type plates for this. If there is tons of food, I'll freeze small portions and then when I want them, I'll defrost them the day before and pack them into the three-section plate as if it were fresh. It tastes so good to have hot, homemade food on a hectic day at work, you know?

I'll have leftovers for my "big" break, and usually just a snack for my smaller break. Cereal is really really good because it's so healthy for you. Even the sugary kind has lots of nutrients. I'm a big fan of Lucky Charms, personally, and it makes the break a bit more fun!

Fresh fruit is always good because it's so juicy and gives you so much energy. Raw veggies and dip is great too. But there is just something about ripe, fresh fruit.

And, of course, I always have to have a little dessert treat!

Tweety, BSN, RN · Oct 15, 2005

Today I'm having boneless/skinless chicken breast with two veggies. It's easy, I just bake some breasts then add a couple of frozen veggies, sprinkle with olive oil. I also bring some fruit and maybe yorgurt or cottage cheese for snacks along the way. I also bake salmon for lunch and add a couple of veggies. :)

Genevieve RN · Oct 17, 2005

I make a big delicious salad with all kinds of stuff (tuna or chicken or mozzarella for protein, avocado, cucumbers, peppers, carrots, tomatoes. EVeryone admires my salads. I bring a piece of pita/wheat bread whatever too.

Or, leftover dinner. Anything you make is good for lunch (pasta and meatballs, meatloaf, chili, chicken and rice) Soups are great.

Fruit, cheese, nuts, veggies are all good for snacks in between.

kellyo, LPN · Oct 17, 2005

Do you like chili? Someone once gave me a WW recipe (2 points) that is so easy and freezes nicely. Bring along some baked tortilla chips, and you've got a delicious meal with protein, carbs and fiber to get you through the shift. Let's see if I can remember the recipe...

1 lb lean ground beef or turkey

1 large onion chopped or diced

1 package low-sodium taco seasoning

1 package of ranch dressing mix

1 can low-sodium corn

1 can Mexican-style beans (chili hot beans)

1 can kidney or pinto beans

1 can Mexican-style stewed tomatoes

1 can any-style stewed tomatoes (your choice)

Basically, in the soup pot, just saute the onion and brown the meat together (I use cooking spray) and drain off any excess oil. Then, mix in the taco seasoning and ranch mix. Then add all of your canned items. Do NOT drain off the water--add the entire contents of the can. Bring to a boil and then lower heat to simmer for 1 hour while stirring frequently.