Eating healthily on the road

[crofty1984]

Hello all, I'll be starting a new job soon where I'll be driving round a lot most days (area sales rep). I'm not the best at eating healthily but I just about get away with it, though I am a little overweight for my short stature. I'm terrible when I travel for work. Airport meals, burgers, motorway sandwiches, etc. Though to date that's only been occasional.

I'd really appreciate some advice on how to avoid turning into even more of a big fatty bum bum.

[vsonix]

Take packed lunches, don't rely on motorway services (try and drive far enough off the M-way to find a supermarket)

[Pericoloso]

I was a HGV driver for 15 years and not once did I buy a motorway meal or from a roadside van or greasy spoon.

Even when I did nights out I had my own more healthy food with me brought from home.

[psi310398]

It's some time since I spent a lot of time living out of a suitcase while working, but my trouble was avoiding such things. Almost every hotel and eatery labours under the delusion that people enjoy "healthy" food, especially abominations like fruit and vegetables.

There was, however, one shining beacon of reliability nationwide: Greggs.

Much to my alarm, they've recently followed the likes of Pret and Eat and have taken to flogging rabbit food:

https://www.greggs.co.uk/pasta-salads-and-soup/fet...

https://www.greggs.co.uk/pasta-salads-and-soup/lem...

The good news, though, is, when you get bored with those, as you surely will, they also still serve proper food at reasonable prices:

https://www.greggs.co.uk/breakfast/bacon-breakfast...

https://www.greggs.co.uk/bakes/steak-bake

[xx99xx]

http://www.justoffjunction.co.uk/places-to-eat.php

Basically a search facility for places near motorway junctions

[Robertj21a]

Bring your own food from home if possible and don't top it up with 'treats'. Plenty of supermarkets sell prepared salad bowls with chicken, or prawns, or cheese. Carry plenty of fruit with you - a banana is quite filling and you can snack on a few walnuts/almonds if you get a snack craving'. Take plenty of water.

[Nickbrapp]

Planning is key, I’m a mobile tech and take lunch everyday, in a insulated lunch box with cool blocks in and in winter a thermos for soup etc.

I tend to make wraps, sandwiches, left overs, meat skewers, rice dishes as a main and boiled eggs, carrots etc for snacks

I work with a lot of over weight people, if you’re not careful the McDonald’s etc really creep up

When I do forget to take lunch I stop at M&S as they have the best to go range, or find a cafe to get a jacket potato. A couple of times I’ve had to use Tesco and the selection of sandwiches just makes me feel glum

Get a ceramic cup too for drinks, and a insulated water bottle for water to keep it cool.

[Prof Prolapse]

I do a lot of travelling and I'm not a fat . M&S (assuming you're not paying) and packing your own is the trick I think. Making a real conscious effort to avoid junk food is also required.

My top tip to packing healthily would be to avoid "Baby bels" type cheeses. The wrapper is hard enough to get your nails under, but undoing the wax strip and peel nearly killed me on the M8 the other month when I was sat at 80 with the cruise control on.

Also traffic lights and roadworks are an excellent opportunity to undo your sandwich wrappers and open bottles.

[Nickbrapp]

^ or get a Skoda, they have cup holders that grip the bottle so you can undo it with 1 hand

And you can get a bin in the door too on a suburb. Great idea.

M&S isn’t expensive, £4 for a meal deal which is superior in quality taste and variety to a McDonald’s

[Twentyfour7]

Cheaper and healthier to make your own. Supermarket sandwiches have additives and often more salt than if you make your own. If you discipline yourself to make the night before it will become easier and part of your routine. Also even if you are in a hurry you can put some healthy margarine in a decent cool bag , buy fresh rolls etc from supermarket, bag of salad, fillings etc for sandwiches when you are on the road

[Robertj21a]

Twentyfour7 said:

Cheaper and healthier to make your own. Supermarket sandwiches have additives and often more salt than if you make your own. If you discipline yourself to make the night before it will become easier and part of your routine. Also even if you are in a hurry you can put some healthy margarine in a decent cool bag , buy fresh rolls etc from supermarket, bag of salad, fillings etc for sandwiches when you are on the road

Doesn't even need to include bread as there's plenty of salads and fruit readily available. Too much bread is only going to make you fat.

[ambuletz]

Robertj21a said:

... Too much bread is only going to make you fat.

no. having a regular calorie surplus is going to make you fat.

OP. if you want to eat 'healthy' then make your own foods. if you want to lose weight (fat) then count your calories and make sure you are in a deficit. the good thing about buying sandwich meal deals or whatever is it clearly shows you how many calories is in your sandwich, crisps drink etc.. the bad thing (obviously) is that it might not be as filling as something you made yourself that (could potentially) have fewer calories in.

[Chainsaw Rebuild]

Its worth having some meal replacement bars in the car for emergencies. If you cant get to healthy food at least you can get something decent to eat, instead of getting fast food.


You will find the bars in fitness type shops or online. Alternatively you can make your own.

[ambuletz]

Chainsaw Rebuild said:

Its worth having some meal replacement bars in the car for emergencies. If you cant get to healthy food at least you can get something decent to eat, instead of getting fast food.


You will find the bars in fitness type shops or online. Alternatively you can make your own.

a cheaper alternative would be just to have a bag of nuts. the only caution here is they are very calorie dense, so if OP is going to count calories it will be best for him to portion out certain amounts.

If ever i'm hungry and I cba to eat a meal or the next meal time is a couple of hours away ill have a handful of nuts with a decent amount of water. tides me over...

..infact i did the same thing today. had a decent breakfast and didn't start becoming hungry until 3pm, had a handful of nuts and it tided me over until now.

[Robertj21a]

ambuletz said:

Robertj21a said:

... Too much bread is only going to make you fat.

no. having a regular calorie surplus is going to make you fat.

OP. if you want to eat 'healthy' then make your own foods. if you want to lose weight (fat) then count your calories and make sure you are in a deficit. the good thing about buying sandwich meal deals or whatever is it clearly shows you how many calories is in your sandwich, crisps drink etc.. the bad thing (obviously) is that it might not be as filling as something you made yourself that (could potentially) have fewer calories in.

I agree, but what I said is still correct - too much bread will make you fat. There's little point in having sandwiches on a regular basis if there's salads and fruit available.

[warp9]

Don't drink more than 3 or 4 pints at lunch. Very calorific.




Sorry.

[Lozw86]

Robertj21a said:

I agree, but what I said is still correct - too much bread will make you fat. There's little point in having sandwiches on a regular basis if there's salads and fruit available.

Too much of ANY food will make you fat so a pretty pointless comment

Fruit contains a lot of sugar and should be limited

Nothing wrong with bread or sandwiches - choose wholemeal for lower glycaemic index and more fibre

[Robertj21a]

Lozw86 said:

Too much of ANY food will make you fat so a pretty pointless comment

Fruit contains a lot of sugar and should be limited

Nothing wrong with bread or sandwiches - choose wholemeal for lower glycaemic index and more fibre

I'm not sure you're adding anything. Too much fruit - or bread - or most things - is not good for you. It comes down to what people consider too much. Some variety is always good, plus the usual 'anything in moderation'.

[ambuletz]

Lozw86 said:

Too much of ANY food will make you fat so a pretty pointless comment

Fruit contains a lot of sugar and should be limited

Nothing wrong with bread or sandwiches - choose wholemeal for lower glycaemic index and more fibre

The difference wi t be that big. Ontop of that the glycemic figure is lowered when protein and fats are added, not many people consider that.

[covmutley]

When I am out and about with work I have a rule I try to stick to. I use the traffic light system on packaging and do not buy anything with red on it, and will aim for as many green as possible.

To be honest, I find that places like M&S have decent healthy food and as long as I stay out of the fast food places, I actually eat ok. Hotels on overnighters is hardest!