As a traveling nurse with a busy schedule, you may feel challenged each day to ensure you’re eating nutritious food that will fuel your body. In one U.S. survey of nurses cited in Nursing Times, two-thirds of respondents said they lack enough time to eat nourishing food during their work days.
While your diet philosophy may be dictating what you consider to be healthy eating choices, it’s beyond debate that food containing solid nutrients is crucial to your well-being on the job.
“(Nurses often) work variable and long hours, exposing them to the stressors of caring for people who are ill,” notes registered dietitian Denise Reed in the Online Journal of Issues in Nursing. “Eating for good health is one way nurses can reduce the impact of stressors on the body and positively influence their health, allowing them to better care for patients and themselves.”
Because foods rich in protein help build and repair tissue, fight infection and provide you energy, here are some ideas for filling, easy-to-prepare protein-based dishes that can easily travel from your crock pot, oven or stove to your fridge to your plastic lunch containers.
Chili: Whether you prefer the traditional spicy tomato-based kind, a bean-based vegetarian variety or a white version with chicken, chili is one hearty food that tastes even better warmed up the day after it’s cooked.
Crock pot cream cheese chicken: The basic ingredients include chicken breasts, cream cheese, cheddar, bacon and dry ranch dressing, many of which people routinely keep on hand. Cook up this savory deliciousness in your crock pot, then enjoy it in sandwiches or alone all week.
Ahi tuna poke bowl: Cut sushi-grade ahi tuna into ¾-inch cubes, add rice and salad greens and season to taste with soy cause, rice vinegar, sesame oil, red pepper flakes, green onions and sesame seeds. Apportion into containers for workday lunches.
Shrimp Caesar salad: Combine Romaine lettuce with broiled or grilled shrimp, croutons, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, Parmesan, cherry tomatoes, anchovy paste and a little mustard.
Sloppy Joe: Make the easy version by browning ground beef with onions and peppers then adding ketchup, tomato paste and a little mustard. Optional ingredients include Worcestershire sauce, chili powder, hot sauce and/or brown sugar. Eat it on a bun or wrap and bake it in crescent roll dough.
Taco salad: Mix together ground beef cooked with taco seasoning, iceberg lettuce, cheddar cheese, tortilla chips and Catalina dressing.
Quiche: Fill a pre-packaged or homemade pie crust with a mixture of eggs, cheddar cheese, milk, green onions and small pieces of cooked ham, then bake it into a delicious savory pie with a topping of more shredded cheese. You could also make a vegetarian version featuring spinach, peppers and tomatoes, or create a lower-calorie, more keto version by eliminating the crust.