Maintaining your health as a truck driver is essential for long-term and continued success in your profession. Being a truck driver requires you to have a sharp mind and an active, fit body so you can stay alert while being on the road for long hours.
While on the road, we often tend to reach out for unhealthy and processed snacks due to a lack of options. However, the good news is snacks are changing due to demand from health-conscious people.
Now, there is a wide variety of healthy snacks for truck drivers from which you can stock up for your journeys. Read on to find out!
Five Healthy Snacks for Truck Drivers
Here are some healthy and delicious snack options that will help keep you active and refreshed while on the road for extended durations.
1. Healthy Popcorn
If you are looking for a snack that helps you maintain your energy while driving, go for healthy popcorn. We often associate popcorn with an unhealthy snack, which may be true in the case of prepackaged and buttery popcorns high in sodium and other unhealthy ingredients for you. So, instead of going for unhealthy popcorn, you now have a healthier selection of popcorn you can make the way you like at various popcorn machines.
Another option is to air-pop your popcorn in a pan using only a few drops of olive oil while you are at home. You can easily bag them up and take them along before hitting the road. Did you know popcorn is also an excellent source of fiber? This makes popcorn a healthy snack for truck drivers who require instant energy to stay active and alert while driving.
Driving for long hours is not easy, so you must stock up on healthy snacks before starting your journey. You might not be able to get snacks during your shift as it may not always be possible to take frequent breaks in the middle due to time constraints, and certain routes don’t have convenience stores.
2. Boiled Eggs
Nothing beats hard-boiled eggs in terms of protein content. You can either boil them yourself at home before heading out or pick them up at truck stops. Most stops now offer standard ready-made hard-boiled eggs. Add salt and pepper for taste, and you are good to go.
Boiled eggs are one of the most flexible snacks you can have. If you don’t want to have them separately, they can be added to your salads and sandwiches. Egg sandwiches are one of the best meals to have on the road. They are non-messy, easy to carry, and super-healthy if you replace regular bread with whole-wheat bread.
If you want to add them to your salads, all you have to do is boil and slice them up and mix them with whatever vegetables you like in your salad. Ideally, you can add lettuce, cucumber, tomatoes, basil, healthy low-fat nut butter, mixed nuts, a dash of salt, pepper, and salad dressing for flavor, and you are good to go. This makes one of the healthiest snacks you can have on the road.
3. Protein Bars
Do you want a snack that is easy to have while on the road that also provides you the energy you need to stay fit and active? Go for protein bars. You must remember to check the nutritional label before and avoid protein bars loaded with refined sugars, making them an unhealthy option. Being a truck driver means you may have to be on the road for long hours.
You get less physical activity and less chance of burning the calories you consume during the day. This makes it all the more important to consume calories in deficit. So, choose protein bars with a low sugar content to give your body an instant dose of energy and nutrients while being on the road.
4. Dark Chocolate
Fighting off or satisfying your sweet tooth can be a bit of a challenge at times. However, we have just the right snack to keep your calories in check while fulfilling your sugar cravings: dark chocolate is what you need. It is rich in essential nutrients and antioxidants that are good for your overall health.
It may taste bitter at first, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll always choose dark chocolate over regular milk chocolates that often contain twice as many calories as a bar of dark chocolate.
On average, dark chocolate with a higher percentage of cocoa (around 70 percent) has about 175 calories, so you must remember to keep your portions in check. Being on the road for hours makes one tired; this sweet and delicious snack will give you an instant dose of energy.
5. Healthy Leftovers from Home
If you don’t want the delicious food at home to go to waste, you can always bring it along. All you need is a portable refrigerator or food warmer to bring the taste of home along with you on the road.
Leftovers can be a healthier and cheaper option that stops you from spending money every time before heading out. One of the most significant advantages of bringing leftovers is that the flavor and ingredients are in your control, and you don’t have to compromise on your diet. There is nothing better and more refreshing than a home-cooked meal on the road.
Our Concluding Thoughts
To maintain a healthy diet while on the road, do research and be aware of all the healthy snacks available at convenience stores for truck drivers. The number of options available is endless. You don’t have to go for snack options that aren’t good for you while out on the road.
Keep in mind you must check the nutritional label of the snacks for saturated sugars, unhealthy fats, and sodium content. Eating healthy is a choice you need to make for overall improved health and better body functioning.
Happy snacking!
