Question:
help! I work a rotating day/night schedule and need advice for eating

I work a rotating 12-hr shift schedule (2 days on/2 days off). We rotate days and nights every 4 months. Should I keep my eating habits the same for nights as I do for days or do I reverse them? Should I still eat breakfast when I get up (on nights) or lunch? I work from 6pm-6am or vice versa. Also on my nights off I tend to stay up all night to keep my system regulated (I'm naturally a night-owl). Because I get off work at 6am, I go to bed as soon as I get home, when should my last meal (dinner) be? Any help would be greatly appreciated, I am still pre-op waiting for ins approval. Thanks    — Nicole L. (posted on January 21, 2003)

January 20, 2003
Eat when you're awake and sleep when you're asleep. Easy enough.
   — [Deactivated Member]

January 20, 2003
working on a rotating schedule was always hard for me. I feel for you. All I can suggest is that you not eat right before you are going ot go to sleep, what ever time that is, and try to stick wiht high protein meals- when ever it is that you will be eating. If you follow those basic rules, you should be fine.
   — Vicki L.

January 21, 2003
Nicole, my husband also works the 12 hour shifts, sometimes day and sometimes night. He eats whatever he feels like eating, sometimes having breakfast at night or a dinner in the morning. I don't think it really matters as long as you get in enough protein.
   — Cindy R.

January 21, 2003
I worked a 4 on/4 off swing shift for about 8 years. I feel for ya! I would say just eat small meals every few hours regardless of where those hours fall. I am not big on breakfast foods (most of them are carbs & sugars anyway) so I eat leftovers, cheese, whatever for breakfast. In my opinion it doesn't matter what you eat when, as long as it's protein first, then fruits & veggies, then other stuff. I would think the bigger problem would be the food other people bring. I know we used to cook a lot on nights and bring doughnuts on days. That would be pretty rough for me now!
   — ctyst