Night shifters-when do you eat?

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I've been on night shift about 3 weeks and love it! But I am having some trouble getting down a good meal time plan on the days I work and my off days! No matter what, I'm eating dinner at 5pm so I can have dinner with my kids. I'm eating my lunch around midnight(I'm hungry then), a fruit and yogurt snack around 2/3. I get home and go straight to bed most days but other days I get home at 730 and am starving. Same thing when I wake up at 230/3pm, I'm ready to eat but it's so close to dinner that I'm just waiting. What do others do? Should I be bringing both lunch, snacks, and breakfast to work so I can get home and go right to bed? It's not a matter of time as I usually have the time to take 3 breaks(1 30 min and 2 15 min). Just a matter of fitting it in the lunch box :)

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I've been on night shift about 3 weeks and love it! But I am having some trouble getting down a good meal time plan on the days I work and my off days! No matter what, I'm eating dinner at 5pm so I can have dinner with my kids. I'm eating my lunch around midnight(I'm hungry then), a fruit and yogurt snack around 2/3. I get home and go straight to bed most days but other days I get home at 730 and am starving. Same thing when I wake up at 230/3pm, I'm ready to eat but it's so close to dinner that I'm just waiting. What do others do? Should I be bringing both lunch, snacks, and breakfast to work so I can get home and go right to bed? It's not a matter of time as I usually have the time to take 3 breaks(1 30 min and 2 15 min). Just a matter of fitting it in the lunch box :)

I've worked the overnight shift for many years now, even before I started working at a hospital. We are mandated to take at least a half hour clock out break during our twelve hour shift. I usually take mine around 1 to 1:30 AM which is about the halfway point of my shift. Sometimes I'm hungry then, sometimes I'm not. I still take my break at about the same time regardless. Things are so hectic and heavy acuity-wise that after the first six hours you really need a break - a real break where you get away from the nursing pod and aren't listing to call lights etc. Taking my break when I do breaks up my night nicely. When I'm at home I eat at the normal times except that I don't have breakfast because I'm going to bed then. I get up and have lunch with the Mrs. and later in the evening dinner. I follow this at home on my days off as well as on. When I am at home I stay up late and I might have a snack around 1 am. I've always been a late night person, even when I'm off work.

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I eat dinner/breakfast at 5pm, eat a quick snack at 11 pm, eat my packed lunch at 2 am and eat something around 830/9 am when I get home before I go to sleep.

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Specializes in Acute Care Psych, DNP Student.

I eat a light snack before going to work. I then eat a full meal at about 2200. I eat when I'm hungry. Lots of fruits and veggies and salads. I have lost weight while working night shift for over a year now, and I've gotten into better shape. I believe it's about maintaining discipline and not giving in to vending machine type of crap food.

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Specializes in Respiratory Education.

I worked night shift about 13 years ago. I had gained about 65 lbs. found out I was also allergic to gluten. Avoided gluten, exercised and back in size 6 pants. I would never do nights again!

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How do you have time to eat at 2200? I barely have time to eat a protein bar at 2300. I'm still usually busy passing/hanging meds at 2200. If not, that's when dressing changes get done, trying to catch patients before they want to sleep.

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Specializes in Anesthesia, ICU, PCU.
I eat dinner/breakfast at 5pm eat a quick snack at 11 pm, eat my packed lunch at 2 am and eat something around 830/9 am when I get home before I go to sleep.[/quote']

This is me exactly!

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

When I worked nights (not in nursing, but they were 12s), I ate breakfast at 1730. Started work at 2000. I had lunch at 2300. I took my meal break at 0300 or 0400, during which I'd have a snack. Ended work at 0800. Dinner was at 0900 or 1000.

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Specializes in Hospice.

I eat a around 1700 with the hubby and again around 0100 at work. I try to grab a breakfast sandwich on my way home. The funny thing is, when I am off of work I am standing in front of the fridge around 0100-0200 because I'm starving!

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Specializes in Emergency/Cath Lab.

Eat at 1700 at home, 0200/0300 at work and maybe a light breakfast when I get home. Thats what works for me.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Transplant, Education.

I've been on nights for about 2 months now, and I'm still working it out. I consistently eat when I wake up around 1700, and when I get home around 0800. I usually go on break at work around 0200-0300 or so depending on the night but I am not always hungry. I tend to have snacks during the night, and find I almost always want breakfast food, regardless of the time of day.

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Specializes in geriatrics.

I drink a vegetable and fruit smoothie at 1730 when I wake up. Dinner is at 2200: Vegetables and brown rice with chicken breast or fish, or a pasta dish (homemade).

Snacks are nuts, eggs, apple sauce, yogurt throughout the night.

0430: Usually oatmeal

0800: Sometimes a hot meal or cereal. I can't sleep on an empty stomach.

Lots of water, no caffeine, and I drink herbal tea with honey when I'm home. Of course, I also enjoy my sweets, but mostly in moderation.

I don't eat out often and my meals are fresh. There is no way I could survive the shifts without a healthy meal.

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