What is in your lunch box?

[RNperdiem]

What do you bring for lunch? I work 12 hour days, and seem to get so low on energy around 5pm. What are the energy generating secrets- is it coffee, energy bars or something else?

[beck_79]

I just discovered protein bars- particularly the Snickers Marathon Protein bars and Powerbars. They've got around 26 grams of protein per bar, and keep me full for hours.

I also keep lots of fruit with me, low fat string cheese, whole grain crackers, and/or a Joseph's low carb/high protein tortilla with hummus.

[nurseinlimbo]

I work 8's and 12's, for the 8's (nights) I pack an orange, wasa bread and cheese, or yogurt. I also snack on those little packs of PB.

For the 12's breakfast is yogurt and kashi cereal, green tea or licorice tea, lunch is usually a salad with ham and cheese shredded on top (either from home or the cafeteria) and I might snack on a cracker with PB or cheese in the afternoon. I drink alot of water with crystal light to flavor it.

My main meal at home is usually a salad or vegetable with either chicken, fish or pork loin, sometimes pasta or burritos for a treat.

[nurseinlimbo]

I also bring my yoga mat and pilates tapes to work with me on nights, and during my break when things are quiet we will sometimes do a 1/2 hour ab workout or legs, It helps me to wake up at 3am when I usually am starting to drag, and gets me through the rest of the shift.

[Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP]

I usu bring a can of caffeine in some form. A Campbell's soup-to-go in whatever flavor I feel like that day...tomato is my fave. Sometimes an apple. Sometimes tuna & whole-wheat crackers. I'm not a big eater @ night but I found if I didn't eat something, preferably protein, I wake up about 1pm starving &then can't get back to sleep after eating. Kinda forced me into eating lunch at 3am.

[banditrn]

I work nites and take a turkey and cheez or ham and cheez sandwich - sometimes some string cheese. I also usually carry packs of pb crackers and some Slim Fast granola bars in my work bag, but lately I've been passing these out to the CNAs where I work.

[cisco]

I've been doing low carb...the Atkins peanut butter/choc protein bars are excellent, filling and easy to grab/eat. Also, string cheese wrapped in deli turkey. Atkins protein drinks, drink 1/2 at a time, it's filling and gives some sustained energy too.

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

an apple and an oragne or grapefruit for the morningtime, usually when I'm charting, or gathering meds, or on the run. Lunch is usually sandwich like a veggie burger on whole grain bread, a couple of vegetables, maybe a yogurt. PM snack is berries.

[Betty_SPN_KS, LPN]

It varies. PB&J sandwich. Apple or banana. Sometimes plain bread or crackers and I buy a package of peanuts or a snickers bar from the machine. Sometimes cereal with powdered mild (just add water )Sometimes I send a CNA across the ally to Carl's Jr to get me a hamburger or sausage biscuit and OJ.

Oh, yes, and usually lots of coffee and/or tea. Sometimes cola.

[Otessa, BSN, RN]

I bring along almonds and cranberries for an afternoon snack and a yogurt.

[casi, ASN, RN]

Because I'm a student and I don't have time to cook or the money to buy a $5 sandwich I could make for a dollar I've started making my own frozen meals. I just cook in bulk and throw serving sizes in individual glad containers and throw them in the freezer. I do sandwiches, left overs, frozen dinners, occassionally I'll bring a potatoe and throw it in the microwave and top it with cheese and butter.

I also bring anything single serving snack size. Fruit snacks, granola bars, peanutbutter crackers. Or anything I can throw in a ziplock baggie. Fruit, veggies, crackers, chips, or peanut M&Ms.

I'm not exactly a healthy cooker (I'll have to learn that), but this is a pretty effective method for me.

[emnicams]

I don't really eat that many snacks at work. I LOVE those South Beach Diet wraps and usually bring one of those for lunch, or a Lean Cuisine, and baked chips or pretzels. And either yogurt or applesauce for dessert. I need to start eating more veggies, you guys are making me feel inferior. LOL.

[Great_Nurse2b]

Left overs from the night before :nuke: with the way i cook, it always taste better the day after! LOL! If i dont make dinner, a turkey sandwich and a peach yougurt is my meal of choice.