If you are a nurse or nursing student, no matter what shift you work, day or night, or position, you will find the busy days when its hard to sit down and eat. That first step onto the unit or into a classroom is only the beginning of the day at clinical or a twelve-hour shift, nutrition is usually swept to the side.
#1 Bring small snacks
Small snacks are a great opportunity. When you are not quite ready or unable to go to lunch, the ability to take a few seconds to pop something quickly into your month and get back to the hospital floor. Snacks like hard-boiled eggs, a handful of nuts, or a banana. These types of meals allow people the chance to eat, quickly without overfilling or the need to sit. A small snack that keeps your blood sugar from getting low and gives you the energy needed to get through a few more hours until lunch or home.
#2 Protein
Snack or meal think protein. Protein has several advantages that include making you feel fuller longer, its one way to beat the hunger. The protein is a macro-nutrient that is utilized in every tissue, cell, enzyme, and hormone. Protein as a snack will help with appetite and a healthier choice than something more sugary.
#3 Leave the candy alone
Sugary treats might seem like a good idea at the time, but in the long run, it will turn into a bad idea. The sweet treat will taste good and might help to satisfy the hunger for a short time. The delicious treat will peak blood sugar, forcing the consumer to be hungry. The peak in blood sugar will also give a sharp increase in energy only to crash shortly, leaving you exhausted and looking for more. There is little to no nutrition found in the sugary treats, just empty calories.
#4 Hydrate
Remember to hydrate and hydrate with water. Finishing up an entire shift with only a few sips or no water whats so ever could lead to thirst, headache, and over a long term, a urinary tract infection. Water bottles throughout the shift, keep one handy at all times, and always refill.
#5 Make good choices in the break room
Every unit I have ever worked on always had pot luck dinners and random treats. Every holiday, birthday, and planned pot luck comes along with cookies, brownies, crackers, cheese, sandwiches, tacos, and lasagna. The actual food will differ depending on where you live. The lesson here, if you eat everything every time food is available, you will gain unnecessary weight. Be aware of what’s available and what you’re eating.
In conclusion, always make sure you pack small snacks with protein. Whenever you come across food in the break room, take into consideration what you’re consuming.