Well, here I go again.

No more Ronald McDonald. Now it's Orginal Pancake House.

I am in training to manage one of the 9 stores in South Florida. Talk about scheduling changes. For the next few weeks I will be getting up at 3:00 AM, that's only an hour earlier, and leaving for work at 4:30 AM. I have to be in the store by 5:30 AM to start the prep-work for the morning opening @ 7:00 AM.

I have found in the last two weeks that everything here is made from scratch. The ingredients are top of the line, too. But breaks are few and far between, in a 5:30 AM to 3:30 PM schedule, plus the hour each way in travel time.

I still don't have my body clock in synch with the schedule, let alone my eating habits. My exercise level has increased considerably, though.

Anyone have any ideas on quick(I don't have much time in my moring schedule to cook with these hours) and easy to eat on the road breakfasts. I don't get to eat anything at work until well into the morning, 9:00 AM, so waiting isn't an option for the first meal of the day-and nothing is open on the way there-not even for my morning "soda"(I don't drink coffee). By the time I'm home, in the evening, I just NEED to crash, so dinner must wait until I wake up again-usually 8:00 or 9:00 PM. Then it's back to bed by 11:00 PM, if I can fall asleep, to get up by 3:00 AM.

Anyone have any Ideas?!?!?!?!?!

You know, perhaps you don't have to make your dinner that night. If you make (or at least prep) tomorrow's dinner tonight, then tomorrow you'll only have to heat it up when you get home, and then cook the next night's dinner once you've got the energy.

It seems to me that you should try to work on your sleeping schedule first. If you get home say by 4 and go to sleep till like 7ish, that is not good. By giving yourself such a late hour to eat dinner, you are hurting your progress. I know that it is early to be up and out in the morning, but perhaps you could try to make dinner when you get in and have your dinner by 5, clean up and have a little walk. Then go to sleep by 8 and be ready to get up at 3. My dad did that for years. Even if you crash at 7 pm, at least you had a chance to digest and burn a little. This might take a while to adjust to, but it will surely pay off health and diet wise! I think that early in the morning you could probably grab a yogurt drink, dannon has the light ones and the low carb ones, they are pretty tasty. I would also try to cut out the morning soda. If you need caffeine that early, then tea is a much better option and if you need a cold drink, make sun tea and keep it ready in the fridge. You can make sun tea with green tea bags and a splash of honey, it is yummy and loaded with anti oxidents!! SoBe also makes a green tea drink in a bottle called Lean Green tea and it is good, it is a bit expensive though, and you can get it at Publix. Soda is a health hazard with all of the sodium and other preservatives. It can also be a speed bump on your road to good health and maybe losing weight. I promise, once you are on a better sleep schedule and make healthier choices, drink water and get in a little walk in the evening before bed, you will feel like a new person!!

during one of my long stretches travelling, I made a sort of crustless quiche in an 8x8 square pan. I used egg beaters, some cheese, and added either veggies, sausage, bacon or whatever else you want. Then each morning I cut a piece out (I got 8 per pan), into the microwave to heat, throw it in a wrap and you have a breakfast burrito in a flash.


Laurie

I know some folks make pre-made smoothies and stash them in the fridge/freezer. Pull one out when you get home from work, let it thaw, and tahdah! Breakfast!

Grrlscout posted a recipe for homemade "energy bars" in that thread. You could try those.

Fried egg in whole-wheat tortilla/pita bread?
Premake some sandwiches that you can grab and go, how about a recipe that I loved as a child?
Coarsely chop in a cuisinart, equal amounts of nuts and raisins. (you could probably use almost any dried fruit). Spread on bread.

Yum.

Catherine

What a schedule!

Here are some of my thoughts:
KD's granola
yogurt (you could drink it)
fresh fruit
dry cereal (you could put it in a bag and just munch in the car)
ww bagel with peanut butter or cheese

Hope your body gets adjusted soon!