Hi I need some advice. I currently work the night shift and am struggling with when to eat. Sometimes I am awakde for 24+ hours and it gets me off track. I work in a high stress job, I am a nurse in a pediatric ICU. Any tips would be nice. thanks

Well... if you have a office fridge and a microwave you could always have a frozen healthy choice meal. There are a lot of folks that don't like them, but I'd say on the healthy/unhealthy scale they are much healthier than a cheeseburger or other takeout food. I find that I regularly have one for a lunch with baby carrots or other snack vegetables (just the meal by itself leaves me a little hungry). I would try to avoid them if you've got high bloodpressure issues. Other things that are easy to keep around are fruit, yogurt, sandwiches, etc.

Hey! I'm heading to work right now! 12 hr night shift, so I feel your pain! My advice and it's been working for me... is planning, planning, planning. Of COURSE there's always the treats us nurses bring in, and its hard to deny, or to just have a little, but if you *mostly* stick to what you bring then I think you'll be golden.

I usually try to eat by 1am for my main meal and then eat a yogurt or a light and fit smoothy (easy and drinkable) during morning report for SOMETHING to have, because I'm usually too dead tired to eat when I get home, and then when I wake up I have something small again before going into work just to do it all again.

What's difficult for me is working out! When I work 2-3 or even 4 in a row, it's almost impossible to work out. I am going to try to make myself get 20 mins on the elliptical when I wake up tomorrow before work again. It's better than nothing!

Good luck!

hi nursemp. i have a similar problem as a pediatric resident. i can work day shifts, night shifts, or 30 hour call shifts all in one week. My gameplan is to try to eat something every 3-4 hours whenever i happen to be awake. Planning is key and I try to choose meals/snacks that can be reheated or repacked if I get called away in the middle of eating. Some of my common snacks are yogurt with granola, hummus with crackers, banana with peanut butter, etc.

You can try breakfast bars! i sometimes have no time at all not even to eat but i grab one of those or a protein shake

Similar problem, I work night shifts too. My shifts aren't as long, but I have to go to school directly after in the mornings, which means my sleep schedule is destroyed and most of the foods around me are bad choices (vending machines, etc). I bring fruit and cheese sticks with me usually to avoid binging on stuff like potato chips, and water instead of soda. It can be hard when you're awake such a long time, the willpower starts to give out, but keeping filling, healthier foods around can be helpful.

HI guys thanks for all the great advice. I have been trying to make sure I eat before I come to work and that helps a ton, also I have been bringing fiberone bars for when people bring out the goodies. It is helping a ton, now the obstacle is exercise. I need to make it more of a priority. that is this weeks goal. I have decided I have to go day by day week by week or I will never survive this!

Good luck!