How to eat well on the road. On a budget.

Nacho nacho cheese.
Leave it alone, it's "nacho" cheese!

 

this is my dinner for tonight granted im home tonight but this meal is very do-able in the truck. i made a similar meal for about 10 truckers out of the truck one thanksgiving. easily under 5 bucks or for that plate.
i typically carry a small portable bbq under the bunk

potato's 50 cents? per pound (can be wraped in tin foil and cooked on the grill or in the microwave)
chicken thighs 1.25? per pound (can be grilled or George forman or grill up a bunch at home and re-heat in the microwave)
salad cheap (but doesn't last long so use it up within a few days)
seasonings although expensive to buy last a long time mabye 2-3 cents worth
a little cheese butter chives ect 10-20c maybe?

 

Thats Cool no fun to barbecue alone. I would thoroughly enjoy cooking up some food and and offering it up to few guys who want to eat and have a chat.

 

that was a good thanksgiving. we were all out away from home there was a grocery store near by nice weather for November and we were talking about having to miss thanksgiving dinner and it was like well that doesn't mean we cant eat good. no way to fit a turkey on my little grill so we loaded it up with as much chicken as we could fit instead stuffed the microwave full of potatoes some of the other guys bought stuff like corn on the cob. macaroni salad and chips drinks ect. we all stuffed our faces it was about as good of a thanksgiving as you can have away from family. this was a few years ago now the last couple years iv been home for thanksgiving. I actually got a call this last thanksgiving from one of the guys thanking me for that meal and saying it was one thanksgiving they would never forget.

but the point was if you can cook a meal like that for that many people out of your truck to make a good meal for just yourself isn't so bad.

I like the grill in the truck as cleanup is minimal. sometimes i take a hot plate and some pots and pans with me but cleanup can be a issue.

crockpots are good as well. i have taken a crock pot put it in a milk crate liner in the crock pot and tarp strap the lid down make a pot roast rolling down the road. the smell will make you starving by the time you get done for the day. then the left overs make good sandwiches ect for a few days.

 

I rarely eat out on the road. Like Joseph said, the occasional BBQ if I'm in the right area but otherwise I don't.

My cooler usually has bottled water, those generic Slim Fasts, about a pound of cold cuts, a bag of boneless chicken breasts, sometimes some premade breakfast sandwiches, some condiments and either a 1/2 gallon or gallon of milk in it. Outside the cooler I either have a presliced loaf of bread or an unsliced loaf of French bread. I keep a jar of peanut butter in stock and a few cans of soup or canned raviolis.

To cook everything I use a lunchbox cooker like they sell at the truck stops(recently on sale for $25) . Liners are available at the Dollar store and you can make them last longer by lining the liner with tinfoil. Don't buy the replacement liners from the truckstops ($4 for 3 versus $1 for 3 at the Dollar Store).

How much does all of this cost in my cooler?

- Bag of chicken breasts -- $7-8 (season as you want/marinade/mix with veggies)
- 1 lb. of ham or turkey -- $3-4
- loaf of bread -- $1.
- generic Slim Fasts -- $1/each can (this is a small meal by itself)
- case of water 20oz bottles -- $4-5
- premade breakfast sandwiches (usually sausage, egg and cheese on a biscuit or croissant) -- $4 for a box of 4

All these prices are for Walmart.

On the subject of Subway, I don't know how you guys eat Subway. It's basically a big chunk of bread with a slice of meat and a slice of cheese on it. I'll never understand buying Subway.

You can eat cheap out there on your own. Cook it your way. Season it how you want. You don't even have to leave your truck to prepare your meals.

 

Yep that Subway may sound and look healthy and it is filling but all that bread has about 15 times your daily allowance of Carbs.

 

I eat cheap and well on the road. I BBQ chicken breasts and vacuum seal them individually before I head out. I vacuum seal individual servings of pasta as well as pork for sandwiches. I'll also grill hot dogs and vacuum seal them in twos before heading out.

Drink lots of water..

 

Whatever is in the hot food deli at flying J. I actually love the meatloaf dinner with 2 sides for $7.00. That's "cheap" and "good" to me I guess. "Ripoff" and "bad" would be the Denny's where I'm expected to top for lousy service! nope!

 

i always get flat bread with my tuna at subway

 

That does look delicious.I'm tempted to go get an order of nachos now.