What to eat?

[dlung]

We work 10 and 12 hour shifts--all too busy to go find the microwave and sit down for 10 minutes... So, I've been living off a steady diet of pasta salad and Cliff Bars, but I'm getting a little tired of it. Anyone else have any good ideas for snack-meal food?

 

[mfleur]

We work 10 and 12 hour shifts--all too busy to go find the microwave and sit down for 10 minutes... So, I've been living off a steady diet of pasta salad and Cliff Bars, but I'm getting a little tired of it. Anyone else have any good ideas for snack-meal food?

banana...ton of calories and portable.

 

[Apollyon]

banana...ton of calories and portable.

and 1 mEq of K+ per inch of banana!

 

[trkd]

Protein shake before or mid-shift can keep you from being hungry for a good long while. Ideally, it should have like 17-20 grams of protein in a single scoop. GNC can sort you out with something like this. Some people don't like them but if you can find one that you like the taste of (I like chocolate), then it can be golden. But that is coming from a vegetarian, so I may be biased. In addition, a couple granola bars in the pocket won't hurt for the top up.

 

[drewpydog]

I like fig newtons. Very processed, but they sit in your stomach for hours.

 

[kungfufishing]

I just keep a pork chop in my back pocket and pull it out every so often for a quick bite. The stain is kind of weird and patients are occasionally put off by it, but it is so good I cant help myself.




When I get sick of various granola and other food bars I pack a peanut butter/honey sandwich. The fat in the PB keeps me from getting too hungry.

 

[DrQuinn]

Drink a diet soda about 1/3 of the way through your shift. That helps me.

I also usually have a slim fast meal bar, too. I think protein bars are helpful, but as you said the cliff bars can get kind of tiresome after a while.

I did 12 hour shifts as an intern/PGY2, then mostly 10s as a PGY3... but I would almost always take 20 minutes off, go to the cafeteria, and get a real meal. Be careful on carb loading though, cuz you'll get sleepy.

I do only 8s now as an attending, and I wolf down a slim fast bar when I can, then just devour the fridge when Ig et home.

Q

 

[Chronic Student]

and 1 mEq of K+ per inch of banana!

I remember that from pharm and all I could think at the time was

IV Fluids: D5W in 1/2 NS w/20 inches of banana added to each bag @ 125 ml/hr.

Once again, I am a huge dork and I really should be studying for boards.

-Mike

 

[ElZorro]

I've found PBJ is a great mix of carbs, protein, and fat to keep you going for another 4-5 hrs. I can't eat an all carb meal during my shift, because at first I feel to full, then I feel too empty and need to eat again, plus the post-carb crash. An apple with a PBJ is the perfect mid shift snack for me.