We all know we are supposed to eat lots of fruits and vegetables and skip foods high in saturated fat, sugar, and empty calories. As a truck driver, this is not easy.
Many truck stops surprise us with quite a variety of amenities. At Iowa 80, for example, you can go to the dentist, or the barber, and do your laundry. According to the Iowa 80 website, there’s also a workout room and a chiropractor too!
Unfortunately, when it comes to food, there aren’t as many choices. Stop on Route 80 at the World’s Largest Truck Stop, and even there your healthy options are limited. You’ll see a Wendy’s, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, Dairy Queen, and a few other typical roadside restaurants.
We all know we are supposed to eat lots of fruits and vegetables and skip foods high in saturated fat, sugar, and empty calories. As a truck driver, this is not easy. We work long hours, get little opportunity for exercise, and take short breaks to eat. The convenience of fast food has caused our industry to estimate that over 70% of truck drivers are overweight, and 50% of drivers are obese.
Since finding healthy food at a truck stop or on the road isn’t easy, what are our options? One answer is making healthy eating more convenient. Here are a few tips that can help.
1. Pack snacks ahead of time. Find some appealing snacks to keep in your cab like trail mix, dried fruits and nuts, sunflower seeds, and chewing gum.
2. Hit up the gas station grocery aisle. Many times you’ll find cans of soup or microwave dinners. Some even have hard-boiled eggs, yogurt, fresh fruit, and deli sandwiches.
3. Pack a cooler of fruits and vegetables. Baby carrots, celery sticks, bananas, and apples make great snacks on the road. Having some crunchy, healthy snacks may keep you from choosing worse options and keep your blood sugar from dropping too low.
4. When you do have options, choose wisely. Even switching out one greasy meal for a healthier option a day can make a huge difference. Check out this list of better choices at popular fast-food restaurants.
5. Drink water and coffee instead of soda or energy drinks. Water is the best thing you can drink can help cleanse some of the bad things in your body. If water is too boring, try flavored or spritzer water – just check for any added sugar. Unsweetened coffee and tea are great options in moderation.
Our job is tough, and we don’t always have the time to take care of ourselves the way we should, so don’t get discouraged if you drank a super-size Mountain Dew yesterday or if you’re starving tonight and your only option is fries and a burger. Even a few changes can make a big difference. Choosing healthy food on the road takes practice, but the benefits are worth it!
