Healthy habits for night shift

Working Nights is especially hard for those trying to stay healthy. Junk food abounds in break rooms and at nurse's stations, and to make matters worse, cafeteria's are closed, and the only restaurant that seems to be open is McDonald's and Waffle House. How do you keep healthy habits in the midst of all this?

ccayton

Packing a healthy lunch (or doing so for your spouse) is one of the best things you could do while on nights. (Also, this is easier on the pocket book)

By having some good snacks available (not just a sandwich in that little brown bag) will help to fight those late night cravings of the Royale with Cheese.


beharris123

Healthy habits of eating are extremely difficult in the EMS profession. One good part about working a 24 hr shift is all three meals are eaten on shift typically, and night snacks are often forgotten. Packing meals rather than eating out is the best way to keep a healthy diet. We all know we eat when we can between calls (or even on the way to calls). A cooler in the back or behind the seat is the best practice I find to avoid eating at the fast food places between our runs. Our EMS service bought us all soft coolers for personal use with our logo on them. That was one way it helped me to avoid the bad eating habits, and also the financial strain of eating out. I think finances more than health has pushed me to be more self aware of my meals.


sandrews7106

24 hour grocery store is a good place to pick up something healthy if you find yourself without a meal for the night.


LZ

Sitting in your ambulance on a street corner for hours at a time makes the perfect environment for unhealthy eating and a sedentary life style. It's great when a company gets behind their employees and provides coolers for them so that the employees can bring healthy snacks in the rig. Unfortunately most companies won't make the investment. Support for your people who are doing the work is much more important than saving a few dollars off the bottom line. Healthy, supported and contented employees make a much better service for the company anyway. Why can’t most of them figure that out?


matbergin

With places like Quik Trip, Race Trac, and 24 hour groceries, the likelihood of finding some healthy alternatives is pretty significant if you have access to those kind of things. My officers go out to eat on a nightly basis and I find myself feeling guilty not building relationships with them by sitting out the meal. Kind of a catch-22.


bccain

Sometimes I do eat out, but i usually bring my food with me. Sometimes I work out of one of the fire departments and the guys all go out for a meal. Thats one of the times I'd rather spend money. Or sometimes somebody cooks lunch/dinner and everybody chips in.