Questions about life on the road - eating healthy

I lost 20 pounds my first year driving. I went from just over 170 to just under 150 (which was less than I weighed when I graduated from high school.) Number 1 I am really cheap. I didn't eat fast food but once every week or two. When I bought prepared food it tended to be to-go food from a buffet at the Petros or TAs. You can buy decent cooked food for $4 or 5 a pound in a nice styrofoam container. Protein and good vegetables only. Forget the bread and the potatoes rice and pasta. I could get two meals out of a $5 purchase.

I had a decent sized cooler that plugged into the cig lighter and it wasn't as cool as I wanted but it kept my food cpp; enough. I always carried milk or half & half, a can of diet soda, sliced bologna or sausage, raspberry jam, yellow cheese, cottage cheese and the occasional leftover from home or a TA to-go buffet. I also carried bananas, protein bars, peanut butter, gluten free crackers (from Sam's Club), breakfast cereal, a big can of mixed nuts, and my sin foods - Cheetos and Kettle potato chips.

A typical day's eating would include:

• Protein bar and coffee for breakfast (eaten while driving)
• A small handful of Cheetos or chips for a midmorning snack (eaten while driving)
• A bowl of cereal with milk and sliced banana for lunch with cottage cheese (for extra protein) and a soda
• A snack of mixed nuts for midafternoon (I'd usually have some more Cheetos too - I love Cheetos)
• Sliced bologna and yellow cheese on my gluten free crackers for supper)
• If I was at a truck stop with a McDonalds (or there was a McDs nearby) I'd occasionally get a dollar menu hot fudge sundae for a treat

I. Lost. Weight. You can too, but you have to stay disciplined. I'm retired now and while I still watch what I eat, I've gained back 15 pounds. The biggest difference? Full suppers and booze (a drink or two every night). I gotta get with the program again.

 

Limit your bread, pasta and sugar intake and you'll be fine, brother. If you have a fridge, bring some veggies and hard boiled eggs. I also kept a foreman grill on board when I was out for long periods of time. Now I'm home every couple days so I just bring stuff with me. If you eat at the truck stop, try to find a full service one if possible and treat yourself every once in awhile to a sit down meal. Just a thought.

 

You can eat whatever you please as long as you don't exceed 1800-2000 calories a day. Warren buffet and I have two things in common. We're both human and we both get about a third of our calories from coco cola. I'm 5'10 180#. I could easily be 300# but I watch my caloric intake. It really make no matter what you eat. It's all in the calories. You can eat as healthy as you like but if you consume 4000 calories a day you'll get fat. Trucking is low low exercise. Keep it under 2k calories.

 

Worry less about what you eat, and think more about getting out of the truck an hour or so a day to walk or something. The majority of drivers would lose weight of they performed a physical activity.

Though as stated there are plenty of healthy and easy snacks/meals. My favorite easy one is wheat tortilla wraps (turkey, spinach, tomato, avacado). Cheap, and everything is easily stored in a 12v cooler.

 

Eating healthy on the road...good luck.

How much free time do you think you will have to cook?

Do you have money for a truck fridge, an inverter, a crock pot, electric skillet?