Sometimes travel nurses don’t always have a lot of flexibility in their schedule, which means that sometimes being able to find time to eat healthy can be nearly impossible. Whether you are being called in earlier than expected or an emergency appears and you have to rush to the hospital, you will find yourself having to abruptly leave with barely a moments notice. There’s not always a whole lot of time to cook and picking up take-out can be damaging to both your wallet and your waistline!
Luckily, there’s a lot of easy options with little-to-none prep-time needed. Instead of just hitting the drive-thru or just forgoing meal time altogether, try out some simple snack or meal that you can throw together in just a moment’s notice. The tiniest alteration to your eating routine can prove to improve your life in many ways; from feeling more energized by fueling your body with nutritious nibbles to saving time, money, and calories.
Breakfast Options:
Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie
- 1 Frozen Banana
- 2 Tablespoons Peanut Butter
- 1 Cup Almond Milk
- A few ice cubes and blend.
Avocado Toast with Egg
- 2 Slice of Whole Grain Bread
- Smashed Avocado with salt and pepper
- Add two sunny-side up eggs for some protein
Ricotta and Tomato Breakfast Sandwich
- 2 Whole grain Pieces of toast
- Spread 1 Tablespoon on each piece
- Add 1-2 pieces of tomato on each slice with salt and pepper
Lunch Options:
Turkey Wrap
- 1 Whole Wheat Wrap
- 3 Slices of Deli Turkey
- 2 Tablespoons Hummus of your choice
- 1 Tablespoon goat cheese
- 1 Handful of baby spinach
Spicy Black Bean Burrito
- 1 Whole Wheat Wrap
- ¼ Cup black beans
- Few Slices of Avocado
- ¼ small sliced red onion
- 1 Teaspoon Hot Sauce of your choice
Ham, Pear, and Swiss Sandwich
- 2 Slices od Whole Wheat Bread
- 3 Slices Deli Ham
- 1 Slice Swiss Cheese
- ½ Sliced Pear
- 1 Teaspoon Honey Mustard
Side Snacks to go along with your lunch:
- Handful of Sweet Potato Chips
- Any Fruit
- Cucumber Sliced with Hummus
- Handful of Pita Chips
- Handful of Tortilla Chips with Fresh Salsa
- Mixed Olives
Dinner Options:
Zucchini Noodles with Leek-Tomato Sauce
- ½ Zucchini sliced thin whichever way you like
- ¼ cup chopped white onion
- ½ leek chopped
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- ½ cup tomato puree
- Salt, pepper, any other herbs of your choice
Set cut zucchini aside, heat olive oil at medium heat and then add onion, leek with salt, pepper and other herbs. Add tomato puree to pan and mix. Pour over zucchini and enjoy!
Turkey Sandwich with Brie and Cranberry Dressing
- ½ cup pulled turkey
- 2 pieces of your choice of bread
- 1 Tablespoon crumbled brie cheese
- Handful of greens
- Drizzle cranberry sauce over all of the contents and season with pepper
While you are not working it is also a useful tip to have other foods prepared so you can just grab and go. Have cut up fruit ready for a fruit salad or cut up vegetables that you can dip into your favorite dressing. Pre-made egg salad or any other kind of salad and keep it in your refrigerator, so that you can simply spread it between toast, with some spinach and a slice of tomato for a quick meal. The options are endless for quick eats so that you can grab and go while heading out the door to the hospital!