The Best Foods To Eat If You Want To Stay Full During An 8-Hour Shift

They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and that's especially true if you're working a day shift (per That Clean Life). A solid breakfast can help satiate you up until your lunch break. If you work a night shift, eating a mini-breakfast or snack after your shift can help put you to sleep — things like toast, mixed fruit, or a slice of banana bread will do the trick. Make sure not to go to bed feeling overstuffed, or conversely, on an empty stomach if you're abiding by the mini-breakfast rule. 

Eating your main meal before you start work is key to staying full throughout an eight-hour shift regardless of what time of day you work. Those working a night shift should try eating their largest meal around 5:00 or 6:00 p.m., as eating large amounts of food overnight can upset the stomach. For those working a day shift, try to have a satiating meal before you head out for your commute.

Incorporating a mixture of complex low-glycemic carbohydrates, complete proteins, and good fats will help keep you full longer. According to Women's Health Magazine, eating a teaspoon of almond or peanut butter is a helpful trick to staying satiated for hours.

Black beans and lentils are packed with proteins and fiber, which keep you full for longer as they take longer for your body to digest. Adding black beans to a taco bowl, or incorporating lentil soup into your meal plan, are great ways to create a filling lunch. "Their fiber expands in your gut like a sponge, so it physically makes you feel full as well," Karen Ansel, R.D., told Women's Health Magazine.