Meals on demand

excited1 · Jul 14, 2016

Hi! I work nights as a CNA and used to struggle with this so I made some adjustments. I got a huge bag of unsalted plain almonds from Costco, low sodium/sugar granola bars, oatmeal, cut fruit and veggies, water bottles, etc. Basically, finger foods for on the go and 30 min lunches. It was nice to snack on my 15 min breaks, and then veggies and oatmeal and fruit on my lunch without having "heat up" and "cool down" time for food. Made a huge difference in my shift to be able to grab a handful of almonds while charting or on 15 min break. No more starving feeling. Good luck!

CaringGerinurse525 · Jul 14, 2016

I don't know where you are located but we have a Sam's club where I live and they sell 3lb Rotisserie chickens for $4. I buy one each week and pre-portion it into 4oz servings then add veggies. I eat this for my meal and then pack Lara bars or apples and pb for snacks. I've lost 22lbs since May doing this!

tiktokrn · Jul 14, 2016

Those are actually good ideas. I live close to a Costco and a Sam's Club. I avoided them because I didn't see myself needing groceries in bulk (there's just 2 of us in my household), but I sure will re-think my ideas of grocery shopping. I was asking more about making it a side business. Buying fresh ingredients and making ready-to-go meals (with different menu items) and selling them online to nurses that might want them. I figure we would have to service a small area to make sure the food is fresh, and all you have to do is warm them in the microwave, or freeze for a later day.

loriangel14, RN · Jul 14, 2016

Why not just bring healthy food with you? I pack salads, fruit, hard boiled eggs, cereal, raw veggies etc. You don't have to cook and it keeps me out of the vending machines.

caliotter3 · Jul 14, 2016

For ages in a previous career, on night shift, I lived on Kit Kat bars and Dr. Pepper. That kind of thought process has never left me, decades later. I try to substitute healthy alternatives, but there is just something about a Kit Kat and a Dr. Pepper.

evilolive07, BSN · Jul 14, 2016

I tend to agree with the simple snack ideas. I have a big lunch bag, and it's generally filled with granola bars, guacamole cups, hummus cups, wheat thins, yogurt, mixed nuts, fruit cups, and maybe a turkey or ham sandwich. I never eat everything in my bag, but it definitely gives me options if I'm not in the mood for one particular item on any given night.

I probably wouldn't do well with the pre-made meals, because I only work three nights a week, and between the pre-prepared meals for work and what I'd have to buy for my off days, I'd be spending a fortune.

WheatGerm · Jul 14, 2016

Not that I've had experience as an RN yet, but as a student who was also working things were definitely a challenge but I forced myself to prioritize food for my husband an I (who was in medical school at the time). I used Budget Bytes - My stomach is full and my wallet is too. a lot for cheap and quick meals, with a lot of freezable options that I could make on the weekend and eat throughout the week.

I don't think I would pay for the meals. That being said, I'm sure there would be people who would (and I would check Blue Apron and other such sites to see how much they charge to get a good price point). The only reason I wouldn't pay for them is no matter how healthy they were I would still be worried about salt, freshness, etc and would prefer to know exactly what's going into my meals. Plus I actually like to cook!

Emergent, RN · Jul 14, 2016

I use a lot of Amy's frozen food products. I'll leave a variety in the freezer at work. They are healthier, reasonably priced, and tasty.

I also stock up whenever I go into Seattle on Trader Joe's frozen dinners.

BittyBabyGrower, MSN, RN · Jul 14, 2016

I take one day a week and cook a bunch of stuff, cut veggies and fruit. I will also make chicken soup or chili and freeze it. A crock pot is a great thing too! We also buy snack stuff and divide it up into snack bags. Then all you have to do is grab and go!

allnurses Guide · Jul 14, 2016

Those are actually good ideas. I live close to a Costco and a Sam's Club. I avoided them because I didn't see myself needing groceries in bulk (there's just 2 of us in my household), but I sure will re-think my ideas of grocery shopping. I was asking more about making it a side business. Buying fresh ingredients and making ready-to-go meals (with different menu items) and selling them online to nurses that might want them. I figure we would have to service a small area to make sure the food is fresh, and all you have to do is warm them in the microwave, or freeze for a later day.

There are several services that do this so you would have to have a good angle to be competitive - check out Susan's healthy gourmet

AceOfHearts<3 · Jul 15, 2016

I like to pack fruit and a healthy choice steamer (easy to grab on the way out the door). I also keep various granola bars in my bag and I keep a pack of vitamin water in my car (lower calories than juice and it entices me to drink more) and grab one to put in the fridge at work for the day. I wish I could keep stuff in the freezer at work, but the one time I did that and was really relying on what I had left somebody ate it (it'd been in the freezer for a day and had my name on it) :madface: .

I did pasta for dinner tonight, so when I was cleaning up I put a bit in a separate container to take tomorrow and my fruit is all cut up and portioned out for the morning. All I have to do is make my coffee tomorrow morning and toss my stuff in my lunch bag. I have an hour drive to work, so when I'm working at 7am I'm leaving at the latest by 5:45 (I like to be gone by 5:30) so I have to have my crap together (which is easier said than done some days).

good luck!