I'm new here too. Been lurking for a few weeks.

I am dating a trucker and I worry about the type of food he is able to eat on the road. I know he eats lots of those tuna packets, but a lot of those convenience foods are so unhealthy. I'm concerned for his health, so this topic drew me right out of my shell.

Eating healthy on the road can be a challenge but it can be done. We have a little refrigerator. I buy chicken breast lunch meat carrots, celery, low cal mayonnaise and wheat bread to make sandwiches. If we eat at a truck stop I try to buy grilled chicken and low fat items. I know it's tempting to eat fast food but I really try to eat right.

My husband likes to snack at night when he's driving so we found a good snack for him in those QUAKER MultiGrain Mini cakes.

Low in calories and it takes care of his hunger pangs at night.

Thanks for the replies to my post. I think it's going to be harder than I originally thought to find healthy things for him to eat on the road. He has a cooler and small frig, but no microwave. LOL, I cannot see him eating those Quaker cakes. He would probably laugh at me hysterically if I tried to give him those to take with him. I sure wish he wasn't so picky about healthy foods.

He might eat the turkey sandwiches sliced deli thin, but not the chicken. I'm going to secretly try him on the lite mayo at home and see if he will like it or notice that it is different.

When he's home he likes a lot of pasta and seafood type things. I think this might be a losing battle on my part. But I really would like for him to be around for a long time, so it concerns me the way he eats.

Any other suggestions? I've never been on his truck, so I have no idea what he is able to take.

It's not always easy packing for them. It will depend on your boyfriend, and really on the room he has and equipment he has. My hubby has a microwave which is really handy for him. I go to who ever has those microwable dinners on sale and stock up, also chef-boyardi things. He also a snacker who doesn't like those Quaker things, so I get him crackers with peanut butter and the cheese ones too. Micro. popcorn too, he watches TV and snacks (just like at home). See how much storage he has first and what he'll get or has (fridge,microwave, etc.). It also depends on how long he'll be out, Tim is out 10-14 days, so he usually goes to Wal-Mart or someplace and picks up stuff while he's out (wish I could get him to shop when he's home). Eating in Truck stops and resturants can get expense, so he limits himself to one or two times while he's gone. He also saves points on his fuel card and eats on that once in awhile. I'm lucky with Tim, he doesn't want to get a "truckers gut", so he walks around his truck and trailer 10 x's once a day, it equals close to a mile - don't ask him how he figured that out.

Good Luck - seems like your boyfriend is a lucky guy, he has someone at home worried about him......................Lori

Thank you.

He is probably going to get a microwave after the hot weather lets up. Right now he only wants cold foods. He does like salads, but made ahead they can get icky. Hopefully, he'll grab some stuff on the road to make himself one or more. I can't seem to get him to try the light dressings though. I think I'm going to have to trick him into trying them at home.
As for the truckers gut...he already has that. Had it before I met him. He claims his cholestrol and sugars are fine, but that's because he's on medication for the cholestrol. I tried to explain that if he ate better, he wouldn't have to take that medicine. He seems to think that since he takes the meds, that he can just eat anything. Plus, he has to take an aspirin a day to prevent heart attack or stroke. I think he's in denial...LOL!

I'm going to try him on some things while he's home this weekend and see what he says. If he goes back for seconds, then I'll know it's something he likes. Afterward, I'll tell him it was made with low-fat ingredients. I've gotta' break him of all of that fat during the week, so he can enjoy what he wants on the weekend.

He's out on the road between 6 and 14 days at a time. Sometimes we only have one day together, then sometimes it's 2.

my husband and i carry quite a bit of top ramen, cup o noodles, and the microwavable cup of mac and cheese. sometime lunch meat and cheese in our little fridge.

Hi Patty!
Mines gone for a week at a time, I prep all his food for him, so all his has to do is a little assembly. A fridge helps alot... if mine was still gone out 14 days it would be harder...
I make sure he has whole grain breads, like rye, wheat and oat, low fat mayo, spicy mustard and diffrent cheeses and a good assortment of deli meat, so he doesn't mind a sandwich at lunch. I freeze leftovers from meals he likes in the divided containers, similar to a tv dinner try, and then I freeze them, he doesn't have a freezer in his fridge, but they are still good for a day or 2 after the thaw, and they stay frozen for 2 days in the fridge... it cuts down on him eating fast food, and he is eating homemade meals he likes. Also, if you want to send veggies, be sure to wash them and dry them and them roll them in paper towels then in a plastic baggie so they stay fresh and crisp. I also pack those little watermellons, catalopes, oranges and apples - they don't need to be refridgerated and he can eat them easily and just throw the leftovers in a baggie to keep for the next day in the fridge. Don't forget the bananas, your guy needs the potasium to keep leg cramps away. Any yogurt and rasins and prunes if he'll eat them, all dried fruit is good.
And just a mention on the snacks, don't pack lots of carbs like crackers and chips, or pretzles... truckers do get a little exercise, but not that much - although it is a trex sometimes from the back lot to the truckstop - all those foods just turn to calories - try some heathier snacks like fruit roll ups or apple chips, trail mix is also good - you don't want your hubby getting fat around the middle - a little pudge in the middle might be cute to you, but it can lead to serious heart desease over time.
Don't forget some healthy drinks, I know they will get drinks and coffee in the trucks stops when they fuel, but if you pack some juice - if they take a cooler with them, freeze the capri juice bags - they may drink the juice, and don't forget water, a 24 pack of water is good to send.

And lastly I'll close my book... truckers need company, and if they are eating in the truck all the time they aren't going to get the contact and company they need from other drivers, so encourage your man to at least eat out a couple times a week - even if the only person he talks to is the waitress, at least he has that contact and doesn't go to bed feeling like he is living in a cage or a box... he'll be happier and so will you!

Thanks for all of the great suggestions! You've all been a big help. I really appreciate the responses.

Been there, done that. It sucks big time. Just be there for him and encourage him. Listen to him. Money is always an issue, but most companies will let you take advances...not ideal, but it helps.