Nightshift workers help!!

[Sakeofpete]

I work two 12 hours shifts a week. Sometimes back to back and sometimes split up by a couple of days. I'm happy with that but it's eating thats becoming an issue and I'm putting weight on. I have 2 children at primary so the day before a shift I try and have a doze but it's hard once theyre home as they still need me to entertain them feed them etc.. I head off to work at 7pm and my husband arrives home just in time for me to high five him and leave! I've already eaten a breakfast that day and lunch and then dinner with the kids so really I dont need anymore food BUT I have a 12 hour shift to get through on no or little sleep. So I hit the cakes, biscuits etc etc.
When I finish work I meet my husband the other side and he leaves as I come in and then once kids are at school I get some sleep for a few hours but then I'm up to do the school run again. I'm managing the tiredness (just ) but it's my eating that is really making me fed up. What can I do?

I have a bad relationship with food really and when I'm tired I just eat carbs and sweet stuff. I've worked hard to lose a lot of weight a few years ago and worry I'll be back to were I started if I dont sort this out.
I'm well aware I probably need a new job but I do enjoy this job and I get a lot of free time as all my hours are done in 2 shifts
Any thoughts appreciated

I sympathise as I never had a weight problem until I started night work (and this was donkeys years ago). There was something so comforting about eating a carby meal in the middle of the night. However, I did 7 nights on the trot, so after the first one, I was sleeping most of the day, so my meals regularised. The only thing that helped was to take healthy food with me, like a large salad, nuts, some fruit etc, and enough for several munching sessions. Also, in my breaks, getting out for some fresh air and a bit of exercise - not much fun in the dark and cold though. I found that I felt less sleepy during my shift eating this way. I know how difficult it is though. Why are donuts so much more tempting at night?

Do you take the cake and biscuits or are they there already?
I think that it's going to be a case of being more disciplined with your food. I work the same sort of hours and during a night shift I only eat soup and fruit. I try to keep my eating habits "normal" so I eat regular meals during the day and then just the soup and fruit through the night therefore I'm not eating extra calories. It seems to work for me.

It's already there.. cakes biscuits crisps etc
I absolutely know I need to be more strict but christ I get hungry at night!! Nothing nicer than a cuppa and slab of lemon drizzle

I changed my meal times so breakfast before bed otherwise I woke up hungry! Then lunch when I got up and had my dinner during my shift. Can you tweak your mealtimes at all?

I think I'll have to.. the problem is I'm not on constant nights. So say one week I do a Mon and tues then I'm off til weds following week then sat then the Monday and weds. I can't get into a proper nightshift routine. I'm frequently awake for 24 hours solid 😴

Bumping for any more tips

I do occasional nights, 2 or 3 a month.
I get the urge to eat cake at 1am!
Here's what I normally do; have a normal meal before work (I do 8-8) then at work I have chicken and pasta or a cheese sandwich or a pot of porridge and banana.
I drink options hot chocolate to get a sweet hit and I don't eat before I go to bed in the morning (I used to have a pile of toast!)
Instead of have my toast when I wake up at 2pm ish then a normal dinner in the evening.
It's tough tho, the body just craves junk in the midnight hours when you're tired.

My sister works odd night shifts and instead of eating a breakfast/lunch/dinner routine trying to stretch it into 24/36 hr period she would eat 5/6 smaller meals every 4/5ish hrs. More like consistently snacking (on healthier options).