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

Wait, you mean us OTR guys don't have to go broke buying food or just eat ramen noodles!!!! But all the local guys, who apparently don't eat lunch and shop at a special Walmart not available to us, tell us its impossible.


On a serious note though, I eat a lot of Subway. 5 dollar foot long and I get free refills from Loves. That's my big meal. Breakfast is usually some peanuts or granola bar and dinner is usually some soup, or noodles. Sometimes tuna and crackers. I try to keep the last meal smaller. But I've also never worried about spending money on food so if I can get close to a Chipolte or something of the sort I'll gladly pay for a burrito. I have my favorite places to stop all over this country and not a week goes by where I don't run by run of them somewhere.

I discovered a new Chipolte by the way. That Petro at the bottom of Tejon Pass on I-5, x219, California, has one behind it. It's a huge Petro so park by the motel, there's a gate. Walk right through the motel lot and there it is. Opens at 1000 too!!

 

BANANAS-can last you up to 10 days
PEARS-up to 7 days
Apples(get the crispy type)-up to 14 or more days
NO FRIDGE

 

I make a family lasagna from Stouffers and portion it out and freeze it. Warm it up on my RoadPro lunchbox stove. RoadPro is usually junk but the food warmer actually works. I recently replaced mine due to it falling apart. Heat elements still worked.

I also cook steaks and pork chops in that warmer from raw. It gets hot enough to cook raw meat.

 

That answers one of my questions. TY

 

Joseph i was just wonderin when u turned to satanism thats all.

 

I don't have a fridge, as I don't stay out long enough to make it worthwhile to haul a cooler in and out of the truck every time I come home. On the other hand, I'm fond of cold cut sandwiches and iced tea so may get one for that.

For now I've got an inverter, and with it a microwave and coffee maker. The selection of heat-and-eat foods has really gotten pretty decent. The tin can has evolved into a super convenient, microwave friendly package. I keep a variety in my truck. Maybe not so good for preservatives and calorie count, but awesome when you're stuck somewhere without food available or time to deal with it. The other day I was sitting in a 2 hour line at the beacon and my stomach started growling. 2 minutes later I had some piping hot chili mac and cheese holding me over till dinner.

The coffee pot works anywhere, and every time I use it at a truck stop, I just saved $1 or so and have a better tasting cup of it.

I do usually eat at a truck stop restaurant about once a day. I don't avoid them because I can't afford them or chasing a healthy diet. Mainly because I'm not hungry when I stop for fuel, or have the time for it when I stop to rest. I only eat when I'm hungry. I've got trail mix and snacks for times I can't stop, and a hot meal is part of a 30 minute break in a rest area or shipper's drop yard if it comes to that.

 

subway 5$ footlong is good. eat half now and then later.....

 

Has quitting smoking affected how/what you cook on the truck and how's it going?

Can we have a meal from you start to finish that has some interesting seasonings (in addition to my 4--salt, pepper, cinnamon and paprika) and why/how you're using those seasonings and how much of them. Something simple that a non-cooking-type could follow and enjoy...


//I always have Subway separately wrap each half and end up eating both right there...

 

Who cares? I'm in awe of someone named for the pizza joint that targets the food stamp sector being on here giving nutritional and money management advice!