5 Healthy Snacks for Nurses to Obtain Energy During Long Shifts

Nurses tend to work long, stressful, and high-pace shifts. However, every nurse needs to maintain their focus and work with total concentration. Without the mental energy to stay on top of their tasks, nurses can make costly or even dangerous mistakes.

While your nursing education and on-the-job experience are enough to help you succeed, sometimes you need a boost to maintain your mental energy.?

Turn to the natural energy lift and brain boost in healthy snacks. Take the following snacks with your lunch or even enjoy them throughout the day--whenever you feel brain fog setting in. There are 5 great options that are affordable to source, and so healthy that you can enjoy them every day.

Mini Lunch Pack

While you might pack a lunch to take to work, you can set aside snacks in a separate, reusable container. Include a few slices of lean meat like chicken or turkey and some grapes. Try to eat fresh meat rather than pre-packaged, processed deli slices, which have been found to contain carcinogens.

Lean meat and grapes make a healthy snack that energizes your mind and body, thanks to high levels of protein and antioxidants. Protein helps to stabilize your brain energy levels and improve focus throughout the day.

Sardines

This may not be the most appealing snack to some people, but they’re worth getting used to. After a few tries, you’ll actually learn to love these tiny, nutrient-packed fish.?

Sardines are packed with omega-3s and protein, which help improve higher brain functions. They also help you maintain clear, focused mental energy. Finally, sardines are an excellent source of other healthy nutrients like Vitamin D, on which your body depends.

If you want to make sardines easier to eat, try them with a few light crackers. Or, try sardines packed in tomato juice, which makes them more flavorful and less “fishy” on their own.

Apples with Peanut Butter

This is a much healthier alternative to chips and dip. Cut apples into thin slices, which give you that satisfying ‘crunch’ that makes people turn to chips and other unhealthy snacks. Add a few scoops of peanut butter or another nut butter.?

This is a tasty and protein-packed snack. Peanut butter adds healthy, energy-boosting fats to your day, while the numerous healthy nutrients in fresh apples make this a guilt-free snack.

Plus, apples are full of fiber, which means that they’ll keep you fuller, longer. If you eat apples regularly, you’ll get the munchies less often and eat fewer calories throughout the day--all while maintaining the energy you need to get through the day.

Hummus and Veggies

Hummus has been enjoyed in the Middle East for centuries because of its flavor, heart-healthy ingredients, and natural energy boost. Hummus is made from mashed chickpeas and olive oil, which are great sources for healthy, natural, and energy-boosting fats. Its other ingredients, including lemon juice, garlic, cumin, and paprika, are healthy but flavorful.??

Pack up hummus for your midday snack. Include veggies like celery, sliced carrots, and cucumber sticks, which are healthier dipping options than pretzels, chips, and bread. Plus, crunchy veggies like these are full of nutrients your body needs.

Boiled Eggs

Eggs are considered a complete protein, meaning that they contain all of the amino acids your body needs but can’t produce on its own. A fresh, boiled egg is an excellent midday snack because of these energy-packed proteins. You also get other healthy nutrients like Vitamin B12 and carotenoids.

Pack up boiled eggs for your shift, but be sure to keep them refrigerated. And, because they’re not so flavorful on their own, add some healthy flavor to your eggs with fresh paprika or guacamole.

What Not to Do

These are 5 great options for long, challenging nursing shifts. Not only will you feel more focused and energized while you work, you’ll make smart swaps that make a difference for your health--and even your mental energy.

Smart swaps are healthy alternatives to popular go-to snacks that you should probably avoid. For example, avoid snacking on processed, sugary products like cookies, donuts, and candies. These foods cause a temporary rush of energy--likely due to a dopamine spike, followed by a crash--when dopamine production drops.?

Caffeine can only do so much. While it does trigger a temporary energy boost, caffeine addiction can turn your entire work shift into a series of highs and lows as caffeine courses through, then leaves, your body. The artificial additives to caffeinated energy drinks make them even worse. The energy crash from these drinks can ruin your day.

Obviously, avoid nicotine products as well. Cigarette breaks may be a relaxing ritual, after which you’ll feel refreshed and focused. However, you don’t need a comprehensive list of nicotine’s side-effects. As a nurse, you know how terrible tobacco products are for your long-term health, and even current health.

These tips can help make long, demanding nursing jobs a bit easier every day. For more advice on nursing careers, visit CynaMed . We offer staffing solutions and other services in your area.