any grab n' go (healthy) meal options?

I am hooked on jalapeño potato chips,
How come it took this long for them to invent them???

 

There isn't a day that goes by that I don't cuss the ######## at Frito-Lay.

And Nabisco too... sons of #####es with their crispy thin mint Oreos... ########!

 

I was only joking but yes Fritos are actually really good. Throw them in chilli. I'd say tomato soup with ritz crackers. Underwood deviled ham with bread. Microwave organic rice with soy. Taco Bell isn't bad if you need something right away. They do a shredded chicken burrito for like 2.20. It's more about portions than what you eat.

 

Canned soup.

 

That's one way to get your week's worth of sodium in one sitting. The other way is Iron Skillet.

To the OP, UnderArmor created an app called MyFitnessPal. You can scan barcodes of foods you eat, or just search for it. You enter your beginning weight, goal weight, activity level, and how quickly you want to lose weight, and the app will determine how many calories you need for the day. You can log any exercise you do, and that adjusts your caloric intake accordingly. Even mowing the lawn counts as cardio.

Anyway, as for healthyish foods. My situation is different than most, as I'm only out for a week at a time. But my daily habits are Slim Fast ready to drink shakes (actually they're really good). I've virtually stopped drinking sodas, I switched to teas. Mostly green tea and bottled water. PhilBrr full of ice is free, and that equates to about 17oz of water, which you also track in the app. 17oz of tea, and I usually refill with another 17oz before the ice melts. I buy the Kirkland's tea from Costco, but Diet Lipton citrus green tea is also a really good one. Zero calories.
String cheese. Not THE healthiest food, but moderation here is key. Two sticks a day helps counteract the digestive effects of coffee. As for El Java, take it black. Creamer adds HUGE calories to an otherwise healthy drink. Personally, my GF makes cold brew coffee and bottles it for me. No bitter taste, and it tastes better than any other coffee I've tried.

Quaker Chewy granola bars. I like the girl scout thin mint flavor. It's not a meal in itself, but they're quick and not too horrible calorie-wise.

Fresh fruits. This requires maybe 5 minutes of prep each week. Less if I find it pre-cut. I'll cut strawberries into quarters, watermelon into chunks, and grapes are also good. This is all down to personal preference, but it makes no sense to bring grapefruit to eat while you drive. Portability is key here. I bought several of the Great Value "entree" size plastic containers to hold the fruit in my 12V cooler. Disclaimer, they DO leak if they're sideways!

Instant oatmeal cups, if you're parked at truck stops most nights. Microwave inside.

I'm also a fan of drinkable yogurts. Shake it up, chug, and I think they're 130 calories? Delicioso, too.

I'll also grab small containers of "picnic salads", as something to break up my meal plans. Macaroni salad, coleslaw, baked beans, potato salad, etc. The key there is portion size. 4-5 forkfuls, and I'm satisfied.


As for your question about healthy fast food. Good luck. Subway isn't bad, if you don't get it loaded down with extra cheese, bacon, dressing, etc. I order chicken on flatbread, and end up eating it like a salad.
Any other places, try to go with grilled chicken instead of fried.


Don't eat large meals!! Snack throughout the day, so when you're AT the truck stop and it's dinnertime, a 4pc chicken nugget from Wendy's is enough to satisfy you....

 

The kettle cooked one's are good

 

It's UTZ for me out of hanover PA. Once in a great while the manager in the store will experiment with a shipment of them. The people clean him out FAST. I finally started buying the 40 dollar 20 pound tins that are about the size of your passenger seat in a big truck that is about a months worth of UTZ for me.

 

No fried chips for me. Quaker Popped rice cakes, usually ranch flavor. Deeeelish!

 

Canned sardines or herring. Hits the spot and cheap! There must be healthy packaged meals that are not packed full of sugar and salt. I don't snack at all and don't eat fast food. I drink black coffee or water.

 

"Pickles are the perfect snack: cucumbers soaked in evil," says McClure. "It complements the lager because of the slight vinegar and salt notes that get picked up."
Cheslyn Dilbeck in Minneapolis won't drink her pint without a pickle. However, the type of beer is paramount: "I would avoid a pickle spear in any IPAs or craft beers," says Dilbeck. And as for the perfect pickle? "At home, I typically use large dill spears from Costco. There is something about the classic light beer taste added with something salty that does it. But, there is such a thing as too many pickles."
And according to Liz Welle, a Minnesota writer who swears by the technique, beer lovers don't have to stop at the pickle-green olives or pepperoncinis make tasty alternatives with the same savory goodness. "They all work," she insists.
Whichever way you choose, chances are you'll be the most interesting drinker at the bar. And the best part? A crunchy, boozy pickle to snack on between pints.