HEALTHY LUNCH ALTERNATIVES ON YOUR SOCIAL CARE SHIFT

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HEALTHY LUNCH ALTERNATIVES ON YOUR SOCIAL CARE
SHIFT
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• we get it youre in the middle of a busy social
  care shift, have a short lunch break, and havent
  eaten anything since you snagged a bite of toast
  on your way out of the door this morning. Its
  always tempting to grab a quick bite to eat from
  the canteen, or even nip out for a cheeky
  McDonalds!
• However, as a career, were willing to bet youre
  on your feet for most of the day, and always feel
  that energy lag creeping in towards the end of
  your shift.  To stay healthy, and put as much
  care into yourself as you do into your patients,
  it is essential to make sure youve got a decent
  lunch!
• Not only will that keep your energy levels up
  right until end of shift, but itll make you feel
  so much better about your food choices.

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SELF-CARE FOR CARERS
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• Self-care may be a buzzword you often hear, but
  its also essentially important. We all know you
  cant pour from an empty cup, and since were all
  human, it is never going to be possible to work
  at 100 mph running on fumes. An back in 2017
  found that 25 of English nurses struggle with
  maintaining a healthy weight and that
  demonstrates just how challenging it can be to
  priorities your own diet when your career is all
  about helping others.
• Theres also the added challenge of all those
  thank your cookies! It is fantastic to know that
  youve helped somebody, and to receive a token of
  appreciation but less so when you realize
  youve existed on doughnuts for the past week
  (Dont worry weve all been there!)
• So, lets look at some manageable, sustainable
  ways to priorities your own self-care, to try and
  make sure as a career you protect your own
  health.

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HOW TO MAKE TIME FOR LUNCH ON A SOCIAL CARE SHIFT

• The first thing to think about is whether you
  actually take a lunch break. Yes, we know, its
  on the Rota, but that is very different from
  taking it! The problem is that a lot of careers
  whizz past their lunch break without a second
  thought.
• Its easily done youre busy, running behind, a
  patient needs some extra support today, and all
  those good intentions about looking after
  yourself go out the window. Here are our top tips
  for making sure you find time to eat  and that
  its something more substantial than a packet of
  crisps from the vending machine

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• Pack your lunch the night before mornings are
  chaotic for the most organized of us. If you get
  your lunch ready and its sitting in the fridge
  ready to grab, youre far less likely to forget
  than if you put more pressure on yourself to fix
  up a meal at the crack of dawn.
• Batch cook or meal prep. Were not advocating you
  start following a bodybuilder lifestyle, but if
  you have one evening a week where youve got time
  to cook, it can be a great way of stocking up.
  Even if its boiling a load of eggs, chopping up
  chicken, or preparing a giant tub of pasta, the
  more quick and easy options you have in the
  fridge, the easier it is to steer clear of the
  staff room snacks.
• Use a shopping list. If you want to lead a
  healthier life, the best place to start is in
  your trolley. Avoid the confectionary aisle (no
  matter how loud it calls you!), and make a list
  of all the ingredients you need to make the
  lunches you have planned out. If you can be
  disciplined enough to buy just what you need,
  youll save a bundle as well as having everything
  to hand to knock up a decent lunch for the rest
  of the week.

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• Stock take your Tupperware. One of the problems
  with bringing in lunch is keeping it hot or cold,
  and making sure it stays fresh until break time.
  You can buy any size or shape Tupperware in any
  supermarket, or invest in a decent thermos for
  hot pasta and soups.
• Treat yourself to a lunch box. It doesnt need to
  be Paw Patrol themed either you can get stylish
  lunch bags that provide insulation to keep your
  food cold. This is ideal for social care manger
  jobs where you dont have a fridge available.
• If you try to make it easier on yourself to get
  your lunch ready in advance, it makes being
  healthy a whole lot less stressful.

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HEALTHY LUNCH IDEAS FOR CARERS
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• Stuck for ideas? Tired of that sad, slightly
  soggy egg mayo sandwich? Find drab salads bland
  and unappetizing? Same here.
• Food should be healthy, energizing,
  and enjoyable your lunch is a well-deserved
  break in your health and social care, not an
  obligatory task that you dont look forward to.
• Filling Lunch Recipes
• Healthy No-Cook Lunch Ideas
• Tasty Salad Recipes
• Delicious Soup Ideas
• Low-Calorie Lunch Recipes
• There are tons of lunches you can make that will
  keep you full till home time, stock you up on
  vitamins and healthy fats, provide a burst of
  energy, and wont break the bank or take hours to
  prepare.
• Some of the most straightforward options are also
  the best

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• Pasta is very easy to batch cook, and you can add
  extra toppings or veggies to add variety. Think
  adding tomatoes and pesto, cheese and
  Mediterranean veg, tuna mayo the possibilities
  are endless!
• Salads provide a great bang for your buck when it
  comes to nutrition, and again you can make a
  bigger batch and portion it out over a few days.
  Make sure to avoid making a tub of lettuce salad
  can be vibrant and delicious think about goats
  cheese and beetroot, pomegranate and feta, or
  prawn and Marie Rose sauce. Even some exotic
  veg like asparagus or sun-dried tomatoes make a
  salad a more flavorful option.
• Soups are fantastic when youre short on time,
  but are a lot healthier than a quick biscuit to
  dunk in your tea. Again, you can batch cook a vat
  of soup to last all week long, and use up any
  leftovers in your fridge to try out new combos.
  We love potato and leek (with a bit of bacon if
  weve been good!), a traditional chicken and veg
  for the winter, or a lighter carrot and tarragon
  for a fast burst of goodness.
• Whatever you choose, make sure its something you
  enjoy and will look forward to. A great lunch is
  the best route to a winning day full of energy,
  vitality and health!

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