Working the night shift as a nurse can be tough. For many nurses who work the night shift, cooking a meal from scratch is not an option. If you work long or odd hours, you might find yourself eating out more often than you’d like. And while there are some decent options for delivery and takeout, these meals can quickly get expensive. Here are some quick and easy meal ideas that will help you get through the night.
Breakfast for Dinner
This is a go-to meal for many night shift nurses. While scrambled eggs are a staple for breakfast, they can be eaten at any time of day. Eggs are also an inexpensive way to get more protein into your diet. Why not make scrambled eggs with a few slices of cheese and some veggies? You can even add in some salsa to give it an extra kick. For breakfast, you might have pancakes or waffles. But they’re also good at any time of day, including dinner. It’s easy to make a big batch of pancakes, waffles or French toast and then freeze the leftovers. When you need a quick meal, just pop some in the microwave!
Make a Whole Chicken in a Crock Pot
You can make an entire chicken in your crockpot and then shred it for meals during the week. You can also use the bones to make your own broth for soups, stews and other dishes. To do this, place a whole chicken in your crock pot. Add some vegetables and spices, if desired. Cook on low for about 8 hours or until the chicken is falling off the bone. Remove the chicken from the crock pot and shred with two forks. Use the broth to make chicken noodle soup or add it to your favorite recipes.
Make a Pot of Chili
This is a great meal to prepare on Sundays and enjoy during the week. You can add some chopped veggies to this recipe for extra nutritional value. Place a pound of lean hamburger in the bottom of a pot. Add a can of beans (black or pinto) and one can of diced tomatoes. You can also add some diced veggies. Cook on medium heat for about 20 minutes. Add a cup of water and simmer for another 15 to 20 minutes. Serve with your favorite toppings.
Make a Baked Potato
This is a quick and easy dinner for that you can make when you are short on time and ingredients, and is perfect for nurses on a night shift. Wash a potato, poke it with a fork, and bake in the oven or microwave until tender. You can serve the potato with some salad toppings and a little lactose-free dressing. Add a small salad on the side, and you are all set.
Tuna Sandwich
A classic, tuna sandwich is always a good standby. Packaged tuna with mayonnaise and mustard on a whole wheat bun can be ready to eat in just minutes. You can also add sliced onions and lettuce for extra crunch. Add a side salad with a little dressing and you are done.
Make a Big Pot of Soup
Using a slow cooker is one of the easiest ways to prepare a big pot of soup. You can also make it ahead of time and freeze it for later. Make a big batch of soup and pour it into freezer bags and freeze. When you’re ready to use the soup, just thaw and heat on the stove or in the microwave. You can also prepare your soup with ingredients that are already in your refrigerator.
Prepare a Meal Using Leftovers
Whenever you prepare a meal, make sure to have some extra portions. You can use these for leftovers the next day. When you have a delicious meal, prepare enough to feed your family plus an extra portion. The extra portion can be saved in the refrigerator and used as part of another meal later that week. You do not have to prepare a whole new meal and you will save the money that you would have spent on purchasing lunch or dinner.
Prepare in Bulk
If you have a slow cooker, you can prepare several meals at one time in bulk and freeze them for later use. Prepare meals that are made with beans, corn and other ingredients that do not lose their flavor when frozen. For example, prepare a pot of pinto beans, black beans and kidney beans together. You can then use these in burritos or chili later on. This way you are saving time and money by preparing several meals at once.
Quick and easy meals are a must for the nurse on a night shift and are important for a number of reasons. They provide the energy needed to get through a long shift, they are easy to make, and they are affordable. With a little planning, quick meals for the night shift can be a healthy and delicious option.
