Exercise and healthy eating for the OTR truck driver

I spend less than $400/mo on food. Here's how I do it: I eat out of my truck most of the time. I buy most of what I need before each trip: I stock canned fruit, veggies, chili, bagged Uncle Ben's rice, salmon fillets (bag), canned tuna, cereal, soy milk, orange juice, peanut butter...

I eat at Subway a couple of times a week.

I also eat some stuff most people won't find appealing...kefir, nori and spirulina.

The first week of every trip I eat out of ziplock bags filled with carrots, green peppers, cucumbers, cantalope, watermelon, and sandwiches.

For snacks I bring raw unsalted almonds or pecans.

A pretty good idea is to avoid anything that's been fried since you're talking high calories and high cost.

I'm always open to advice from other people who have more or better ideas. This is what is working for me so far.

 

I just read what I wrote. It didn't come out like I wanted it to.

Do you have a frig to store food and do they work very well. What about a microwave.
Thanks for taken a min to comment.

 

I have a 12V cooler. A fridge would be preferred since a 12V cooler keeps the contents 30-40 degrees cooler than the surrounding temp. This means that when it gets cold your food can freeze and when it's hot your stuff isn't as cold as it should be. Usually a 12V cooler is adequate but sometimes it doesn't work well. I also have an insulated cooler which I periodically fill with ice as needed. If you have the money, a fridge is definitely the way to go. If you do go 12V and you like to eat healthy like me, make sure you get a LARGE cooler. I've got a small one and regret it.

Don't have a micro but wish I did. I am overall happy with Schneider but one of their failures is driver comfort. SNI company drivers who have micros have them hooked up against company policy since the draw is so large (anything requiring over 180W inverter is against the rules and forget about direct tie into the batteries). I end up using a micro at SNI operating centers and ask to use the micro at truck stops on a rare occasion.

 

Oh I meant to ask about the oatmeal. Is instant oatmeal ok?

 

Why wouldn't SNI set a truck up for microwave. I was thinking about going with SNI too. I figured that eating GOOD meals at the T/A would cost about $25.00 a day , $750 a month, a whole weeks pay. I got figure out something. Here's what I'd like to do I'd like to stop a Wal Mart and pick up a pre-cooked chicken every 4 days along a bag of salad, bag of broccoli and cauliflower and a jar of mayo. Can you see this working? Will there be enough room in a little frig?
Thanks.

 

Every time you stop at an unfamiliar place with a tractor trailer, you increase your odds of getting into a difficult turn around situation. I wouldn't count on being able to find a supermarket every few days. Your bags of veggies idea is good but you will run out of fresh at some point because you have limited fridge space and that's where canned vegetables will take up the slack. Same with fresh fruit. I bring apples, oranges and bananas. When I run out of fruit I dig into my nonrefrigerated stock of orange juice (100%) and canned fruit. Many truck stops sell fruit, 2 for $1, which is good to know since canned fruit usually is high in sugar. Since I have limited cold storage I buy soy milk, the kind that only needs refrigeration after opening. That way I can bring enough to last the trip but only have to refrigerate one container at a time.

Never bought a precooked chicken. Might be a good idea...maybe someone else has done it and can answer... Might take up too much space in your fridge...

I would only bring mayo if you know you will not have any temp compromises.

 

Don't know. Hopefully someone who does will read this and answer. I'd guess they're afraind of compromising the wiring and burning down the truck? or running down the batteries?

 

Thanks G. The more info I get the more prepared I'be.

 

Oatmeal is my favorite breakfast food when driving. If you don't have a microwave, you can still make it. Buy the regular stuff, boil some water, and pour it over the oatmeal, let it sit 5 minutes. I like to add yogurt to it. That way you to get some protein, healthy carbs, and lots of fiber in your morning meal. It's also rather filling.

As for boiling the water, I recommend getting an electric plug-in hot pot. I use mine to make spaghetti (try whole wheat noodles), hot dogs (fat free), steamed vegetables, potatoes, rice and beans, etc.

I would recommend buying a small crock pot or slow cooker, and buying your chicken uncooked. You can get more chicken, cook it as you need it, and save money. My mini crock pot was only $25. You just throw the chicken in, add some water, make sure it's secure and drive down the road. 3 hours later you have fresh cooked chicken!

Eating healthy on the road takes commitment, but it saves you money in food and medical bills. Finding a Walmart can be tricky. If I'm in a pinch, I just log on to the Walmart website and look for some along the interstate on my route. You can find truck parking around most of them, check it out on satellite view of Google Maps if you need reassurance. It takes a little practice to navigate your way into and around stores, but you'll get the hang of it. Good luck!

 

What your saying sounds good but what about clean up. My way the chickens cooked. It'll provide for 4-5 meals. Use paper plates, plastic forks, and throw it all out when done. Are the frig's big enough and cold enough to hold a chicken, a bag of salad, and say 4-8 apple size peices of fruit for 4 days.