Lunch on the fly??

Questions, I have put in the first three days of working. For those of you who don't know I haven't worked in 13 years, and I had my surgery about 15 months ago. I have been doing great at getting up and eating a good breakfast, packing a good healthy lunch and snacks. Here is my question. I am always rushed for my meals. I am a nurse and meal times are never certain things and you are never sure you are going to have very much time to eat. I am rushing myself in the mornings too when it comes to eating and getting ready for work. My "Little Tummy" isn't liking the eating fast thing. I normally take a very long time to eat and chew forever. Well when I am working that just isn't happening. I know that I can get up a little earlier in the morning so I have longer to eat my breakfast, but what about rushed lunch times at work? Do any of you have any little tips or suggetions you would like to share? How about some of you other nurses, how do you handle this paticular problem? Thanks in advance. Belinda

Belinda,
I am not a nurse but I also only get 30 minutes for lunch which to me feels like rushed by the time I warm my meals and sit down to eat. We also cannot eat at our desk and like you I am rushed in the morning with getting the kids to school and making sure they are eating breakfast before heading out. I find myself grazing a lot because of this reason and as a result have regained 15lbs. I would say try to eat slowly and take your time chewing because if you do not you will keep having problems with your stomach. I am sorry I am not much help but know where you are coming from. It will be interesting to see the response from some other ladies here...

Not sure what kind of environment you work at but can you nibble on your lunch at the nurses station? That or you can try less dense things for lunch. Soup, cottage cheese and fruit, ricotta etc things that even if you eat a bit more quickly tend to go down with out a problem. That or you can do a shake for lunch and have your real meals for breakfast and dinner. When I was pregnant I had to eat something early and would take my beakfast in the car with me - that's always an option there too ( I wasn't getting up any earlier then I had to! lol).

I am sure that Pam P. will have some great ideas (she is an ER nurse) but she is at the Barix meeting tonight so might not reply until tomorrow.

Good luck!

Liz

Hi...ER nurse rush here!  LOL

My menu's for lunches, snacks, stay VERY similar every day at work....because it's stuff that WORKS in eating in a rushed environment.

I bring greek yogurt with berries, ricotta with splenda and cinnamon, string cheese, soups basically anything that is NOT to dense. 

I pack individual servings of fruits and veggies cut up and individual servings of nuts etc.

I do eat at the desk...every few hours....but small quantities...or I'll keep the nuts in a plastic baggy in my pocket.  I do end up basically "grazing" through the night at work...because I normally can't finish anything I eat all at one time, so it's normally a thing of "eat a bite...go do something with a patient...eat a bite...go do something..." which I know isn't perfect in our "rules" but it's what works for me....