Any Teachers Out There?

I teach Kindergarten (took the year off this year to stay home with baby). We get 35 minutes for lunch and that clock starts when we leave our classroom and continues as I walk 22 cutie pies through the lunch line and get them seated which means....I get maybe 15 minutes to myself when I get back in the classroom(if I don't have to call any parents, etc.). I wanted to know how any teachers handled the very little time to eat scenarios and any one else in the work place with a similar situation. Lately I can eat in 20 minutes but anything less is not good for me or rather my pouch. I read a post earlier regarding protein bars. I have not tried them and didn't know if people were using them as snacks and/or meal replacements. I was thinking of maybe taking some pre-made shakes I know I can tolerate to cut down on time. My regular plan is to pack my own lunch of deli meats, egg salad, tuna, cheese, etc. since I have to pack my own sweet little Kindergarten daughter her lunch too. I'm just worried about those days when I have 15 minutes or less to eat! The good thing is I'm trying to think of this now. School starts the 22nd of August but feels around the corner. Looking forward to your posts! Ana 221~171~125 Finally got to the 1/2 century club!

I'm a homeschool mom, so can't help you with the time issue, but I do eat protein bars quite a bit. I really enjoy the EAS ones (the blueberry and lemon cheesecake ones are YUMMY!!). They have (as mentioned) cheesecake flavor, cookies and cream, chocolate and pb, they're all really, really good. An entire bar has like 21 grams/protein in them and 230 calories. I'd say good for a meal replacement as it sticks with you for quite some time. Michelle

I also teach, but not full days. When I am having a busy day at work, I split my lunch up, 1/2 at lunch time and 1/2 "after school" or around 3-5pm. This is when I get hungry for a snack anyway, so I try to have either the rest of my lunch or a protein bar/drink. As for the protein bars, I buy Atkins, because they have 17-20g protein with very little sugar, which I do not tolerate well at all. The only problem with th e bars is that they sometimes take 15-20 minutes to eat because they are so dense, that you have to chew really well to be able to digest them. For a quick snack, I have a piece of LF cheese (cut into 1oz cubes--I keep them in my office fridge just for the "busy" days), but lean deli meat would serve the same purpose. Mostly, I just try to pack things that I can eat in stages, if I need to. Hope this helps. Jem 326.5/275/165

I'm a High School special ed teacher. We have a good contract giving us a duty free 25 min lunch--45 min in the elementary. I don't expect to hace a problem. Look at your contract--I know several Texas NEA teacher leaders. They should be able to help.

I am teaching kindergarten this year, too, Ana! It will be my first year with K, having taught PreK, 1st, 3rd, 5th, 6th, and 8th in years past. At first I was reluctant to "go back down" to teaching little ones. But since my 17 month old grandson has moved back into town, I find myself enjoying grandmotherhood tremendously. It has brought out the love of the small fry I thought was long gone! Anyhoo, my lunch is short this year and I have had the same thoughts on what to take for lunch. Some protein bars have enough protein and carbs to use as meal replacements and as for me, I think I'll be using them several times per week. Your idea of deli meats etc. seems to be a good solution for those of us who have little time to concentrate on what's going into our pouches. Have a great school year! Becky Jean

I also am a Kindergarten teacher.... I go back to work tomorrow for pre-planning and I have been stressing on how I am going to get to eat also. As we all know for the first few weeks we will be doing good just to get them through the line and sat down before it will time for us to get up and go again. I plan on packing my lunch also and will just have to find time to eat whenever I can. Since we have a refrigerator in our classroom I figure what I don't get to eat at lunch I can save and have at snack time with the kids. I would love to hear all the suggestions of all the teachers on board here. Patrice

Hi Ana, Sorry, I am not a teacher in theory, but I work with young teens at a shelter. I am a resident counselor and when I am on the floor with them, which is almost always, they have to be supervised 24-1. That means my breakfasts, lunches, and dinners are spent supervising them getting their meals and sitting with them eating them with them. (we do not get time off the floor for breaks) I found between watching them get their food and by the time they are clearing their plates I have 15min tops, if there are no outbursts or fights. It's been very difficult for me trying to figure out how to get my meals in. I do take my own food in. I at first tried regular solids, such as chicken breast and some vegetables, fish and vegetables, etc.... I found I would get in a few bites and that's not enough. When I tried to speed it up. OHHHHH my, ...not good. I found that I try to make sure to take two shakes with me to help supplement my proteins and then take them during the mid day when the boys are getting their snacks. Now when I sit down with the boys for meals I make them semi liquid. Such as Cottage cheese with a little Maranarea sauce and cheese, tuna salad, chicken salad, egg salad, yogurt, egg drop soup, or some other protein rich soup. I keep it simple and less solid foods stay down when on a tight time crunch. I am not sure if this is of any help to you....But good luck...It took me several weeks to figure out how to get through it, but then I didn't ask anyone for suggestions. Sometimes one just has to learn through experimentation. ---Sabrina

I teach as well, have you tried teaming up with another teacher. She could take them to lunch and you could walk them out at the end of the day or watch her class for a few minutes at recess so you could have a little more time at lunch. Jane

Hi Ana, You know I've been thinking the same thing about the 15-20 minutes we actually have for lunch. My thought is that I will only eat a very light snack for lunch, and during planning which is 45 minutes will be the time where I actually eat my 30 minute lunch. Just a thought.... Morgan