As a truck driver who is saddled with long hauls, you’re probably already aware of the lack of food options when you’re on the road. It seems like everywhere you turn there’s a fast food joint tempting you with their convenience foods, and calorific sodas – but it doesn’t have to be that way. You don’t have to sabotage your diet while on the road, there are other options, and in this article you’re going to discover them.
Firstly, you’re most definitely going to have to stop in fast food restaurants and other trucks stops while out on the road. It’s inevitable. But, if you can resist the temptation for a Big Mac, you’ll find that these restaurants do have healthier options on their menus. You’ll usually find side salads, fruit dishes, wraps and baked potatoes – so opt for them. If you do opt for a salad, request for the dressing to be served separately. That way you can dip your food, rather than consuming all of the dressing (which will be high in fats and oils).
Ever heard of the popular cliche phrase; “if you fail to plan, you plan to fail”. Well, that phrase is certainly true while on the road. If you know you’re going to be on the road for several days, then you need to prepare, of course. Instead of packing chips, chocolate bars, and other unhealthy snacks… pack granola bars, trail nuts, bottled water and fruit.
I can’t emphasize the importance of drinking plenty of water on the road enough. Too many drivers avoid water while on the road. Instead they choose to drink coke, or another soda high in sugar. Some drivers even choose to drink “Red Bulls” and other energy drinks that contain high levels of caffeine (they should really be called de-energize drinks, as they zap you of energy after the initial boost of energy that they provide you with). Drink water instead, and you’ll find that you’ll snack far less.
If you’re really serious about eating healthier on the road, you could even install a mini fridge inside of your truck. The benefits will far outweigh the initial cost of installation. This way you’ll be able to take along other healthy goodies, too! You’ll be able to pack yogurt, veggies, fresh fruit, string cheese and other healthy treats. And you’ll be able to keep your water chilled – nothing compares to a chilled bottle of water on a warm day.
Now, it’s much easier said than done – but if you can resist all of the temptations on the road, then you can take control of your diet. All it takes is some preparation, self discipline and some commitment.
