This article is provided by Host Healthcare
As a travel nurse, you are always on the go. From traveling between assignments to the fast pace work responsibilities, your days can be jam-packed. One of the things that suffer during busy days is eating healthy meals. Lack of healthy meals could lead to fatigue, lack of concentration, and more serious conditions like obesity. That is why we created these 10 healthy meal planning tips for travel nurses.
Identify Healthy Meals.
The first step to eating healthy is knowing what to eat. Healthy meal planning tips for travel nurses start with knowing healthy foods to eat. There are plenty of websites or magazines you can read to find healthy recipes. In addition, ask your other nurses what healthy foods they eat.
Planning.
After you know what to eat, the next step has a meal plan. Having a plan of what you will eat for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks will help you from eating a bunch of junk food. If you need assistance, there are apps and calendars to help you plan your meals accordingly.
Cook At Home.
Being a travel nurse, you might not have every cooking tool you have at home. However, cooking at home is a great way to eat healthily. Cooking at home allows you to make sure the ingredients are healthy. In addition, you can control your portion sizes instead of eating a large plate of dinner out.
Pack Your Meals.
Bringing your meals to work will ensure you have healthy meals and snacks to eat during your shift. Packing your meals ensures you don’t eat something quick in the cafeteria that provides no nutritional value.
Take Your Time Eating.
Did you know it actually takes a few minutes for your brain to tell your body it’s had enough food? Other benefits of eating healthy include better digestion and greater satisfaction with our meals.
Drink Plenty of Water.
While water isn’t a meal, drinking water is very important in planning and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Studies have shown that drinking water has a major effect on energy levels and brain function. So be sure to drink your eight 8-ounces glasses of water per day.
Have Plenty of Snacks.
This is the biggest thing that gets in the way of eating healthy—everyone snacks. As a travel nurse, you are running around throughout the day. Be sure you bring plenty of snacks to your shift. Great snack ideas include fruits, vegetables, almonds, baked sweet potato chips, or healthy bars.
Portion Control For Eating Out.
It’s unrealistic to think you will eat a home-cooked meal for every meal. It’s okay to eat out. But when you do, make smart choices. One of the easiest ways to eat healthily is to box half your entrée before getting to the table. This will help you not to eat large portions of food.
Know How Much You Should Eat.
Everyone’s body is different. The way we metabolize the food and beverages we consume is different. That’s why it’s a good idea to know how much to eat and track what you eat. Use a site like Super Tracker or Choose My Plate to understand how much you should be eating based on yourself.
Give Yourself A Cheat Day.
As a travel nurse, you aren’t expected to eat clean meals every day. Cut yourself some slack. If you’ve had a tough week or going out with friends, don’t feel like you must eat veggies while drinking water. You’ll be surprised when you give yourself one day that you end up eating well the other days of the week.
Hopefully, after reading this article, you have a good idea of healthy meal planning tips for travel nurses. These tips are not one size fits all. Be sure you tailor these suggestions to your dietary preferences, lifestyle, and schedule to have easy meal planning and a healthier diet.
