Truck divers go to work in a moving office. They are in the cab of a truck and there is little time for them to relax. They certainly do not have a full-size gym in the truck. As a result, truck drivers push themselves hard. If they aren’t driving, they aren’t getting paid. For this reason, it is more important than ever that they take proper health and wellness seriously.

Even though a well-balanced diet and lots of time at the gym may feel unrealistic to some truck drivers, there are plenty of ways to ensure a strong and fit body. Many hours on the road does not have to make for difficult healthy living. If you have a proper guide to eating well and staying fit, there is no reason why these should seem like unattainable goals. Proper health is essential to proper trucking.

Eating Right on the Road

For many truck drivers, eating wherever they can get their food is simply the name of the game. Yet, what you eat plays a central role in how healthy you are. Do you order more food than you can eat? How often do you eat and what extras, dressing or sauces do you indulge in?

Typical truck drivers likely hop in their truck, take in a cup of coffee, snack for lunch, and then sit down at night for a large meal, all of which leads to a poor level of health, expanding waistline, and decreased fitness. Eating late makes you less hungry in the morning, which is typically when you should have your largest meal. Even more, coffee is not an acceptable stimulant when you are hungry. Professional truck drivers need to focus on having a large breakfast, a mid-size lunch and a small dinner.

Of course, where you eat largely influences what you eat. Places that offer a large menu selection provide a level of variety that prevents you from having to eat the worst thing on the menu. It is important to pay close attention to the fats, sugars, and overall sodium intake of each meal.

Your best bet for finding a decent meal is at a full-service restaurant. Restaurants provide a great variety of food and often have things like salads and other healthy options. The drawback to eating at full-service restaurants lies in the time it takes to get the food.

You can also choose a cafeteria or buffet, since they also have a variety of selections, and the timing is better because the food is prepared in advance. You also have greater control over how large your portion sizes are. Just ensure you practice self-control during situations where you can eat as much as you want.

The places you should avoid as much as possible are fast-food restaurants and convenience stores. Many of the foods found at fast-food restaurants are deep fried, loaded with fat and calories, and overabundant in their portions. Do you really need a double burger, large fries, and a milk shake? One combo meal at a typical fast-food joint will run the total number of calories you need for an entire day.

Convenience store meals are even worse. These foods are often pre-packaged, loaded with preservatives and, simply put, bad for you. While you can sometimes find healthy refrigerated options, such as yogurt, fruit, and fresh juice, the pickings are often slim.

When you can’t spend a lot of time preparing your own meals or spending a long time at the gym, it is important to pay close attention to where you eat, because you are not just what you eat, you are where you eat. Are you eating in the right places?