I work 2nd shift too. I don't know how rigid your work schedule is......but I'd say to listen to your body. I eat breakfast at noon and then bring what is lunch/dinner with me. I eat 'lunch' at break time; and dinner on my lunch hour. I don't eat when I get home from work.
I don't think it matters so much when you eat as that you eat the proper amount and fuel your body adequately! Good luck!
Did you notice I didn't label my meals breakfast, lunch, or dinner? That is because when I work 2nd or 3rd shifts I sometimes have breakfast type foods as my last meal of the day and lunch as my first.
Don't worry about eating right before bed hindering weight loss. If you have the allotted calories then you should be fine. I ALWAYS eat before going to bed and still managed to lose significant amount of weight.
I too have worked both 2nd and 3rd shifts. It is very difficult becuase your mind says its time for "X" but you body says it's time for "Y". What always worked for me is just to stick to the routine and not let my mind tell me hey its lunch time why are you eating breakfast!
2nd thing I can suggest is stick to that routine, each meal and snack at a particular time. Your internal clock will adjust some what but it always wants to go back to the correct cycle. Just stick with specific times for your meals (within 30 min of them), and it will help your clock cycle to your schedule.
Lastly, I notice every once in a while (about 90 days) or so, I would have trouble sleeping, eating and just doing anything. What worked for me was to stay up on a day off doing active things, outside until I was so tired I passed out and slept for about 12-16 hours, waking up back on my scheduled time. Reset my clock!
