Eating & Living in a Truck

Sep. 02 2011

I promised a LONG time ago that I would do a post on eating in a truck and I am finally getting to it. Sorry for the delay!

I really try to eat healthy while on the road, but more than that I want easy and tasty to go with it-sometimes even more so than healthy. I have a two rules that I live by in my truck, so I limit myself more than some, but I think I make do quite well.

I never want to get out of my truck smelling like food of any kind & I don’t want a mess in Rosie, so these are the rules!

  • I will not make anything that will make me or Rosie STINK!
  • I don’t make anything that is super messy because it’s not like I have a kitchen sink with running water!

I have a small sleeper compared to some trucks so I do not possess a microwave, which is just fine by me! I have a crock pot and bring food along that is easily adaptable to a crock pot or that I’m able to eat cold.

I absolutely hate plastic, although sometimes with certain drinks I get stuck with it. Canning jars are my best friend when it comes to bringing food with! I go for wide mouth glass for a few reasons.

  1. Reusable
  2. Tough
  3. Does not hold odors
  4. Cheap if broken
I use widemouth canning jars for just about everything. I then buy the plastic screw on lids you can find in the canning section of your grocery store. I use to use regular canning lids and I would prefer it, but I absolutely cannot stand listening to the glass tinkling together going down the road for 10 hours a day. The plastic lids keep the glass away from each other just enough so that I don’t hear that!
I have two large Italian glass bottles that I keep my milk and water in, you can see them in the door of my fridge. I fill my milk at home before I leave and that is usually it for the trip. I keep a couple of gallons of water with me in the side box at all times, but I keep just enough cold on hand so that I’m not taking so much room up in the fridge with gallon jugs.
I use a half gallon glass canning jar for my iced coffee. Here is a good recipe for iced coffee if your interested. This saves me from buying crappy watered down coffee at truck stops, I know who made what I’m drinking, and most importantly, I’m not spending the money. I make it at home and bring a half gallon with at a time. I then bring with my cream or half & half and have iced coffee most mornings. I make it strong enough to make sure it peels my eyelids back in the mornings!
Usually, every other trip out I make a quiche that is very good eaten cold! It’s homemade and good for you, and I end up with around 8 slices. I wrap it up in tinfoil and I can grab a piece whenever I get hungry. Quiche goes good for breakfast, lunch or dinner! I usually pair it with this white bean salad. This white bean recipe fills two pint jars which gives me about 4 meals over the 6 days I’m out. It’s an easy recipe, but it is SO SO good! I find it gives me the protein I crave. It makes a tasty meal and it is pretty too!
  • Always remember to please the eye as well as the belly!
To save money on the road I buy my drinks-Tea, orange juice, or whatever (I stay away from pop of any kind) by the case. You can buy a case (6 pack) of snapple for a bit over 5 bucks. You will pay over $2 in a truck stop for one bottle-add it up!
If you have the room stop at a grocery store and get your supplies.
  • Always remember you are going to pay extra for the convenience of a convenience store.
  • Stock up once a week and you will save money!
  • Be creative-what do you like?
Here are a few more ideas for meals!
I know some of you will think I’m crazy but I LOVE these burgers! There are times when I don’t have the time to whip up meals for the truck or I just get in the mood for a burger which is something I don’t bring along. These burgers are a bit more expensive but they make a damn good meal when thrown in the crock pot for about an hour, and if you have a microwave in your truck it will take you only minutes! You can find them in the frozen section of your grocery store. I just let them thaw in the fridge and eat them within a few days…. It hasn’t killed me yet!
I put one of these burgers on a wheat bun or bread if that’s all I have along. Add mayo, lettuce, and a slice of cheese and most of you will never miss a real burger. And really, when compared to the crap you can buy at the deli counter at the Flying J, it will taste WAY better! Trust me!
Don’t forget my tortilla roll ups that I make! They are easy, tasty, and good for you! And another meat free option.

 

 

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Posted in: My Life Trucking | 2 Comments
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Bethany About Bethany

I am a prisoner of the highway, farmer and lover of Mother Nature, the moon and stars, my long and low, flat-top Peterbilt, chickens, cats, dogs, horses, cooking, photography, tattoos, tea pots and vintage barnifacts…among other things. I’m also a very, happily married, third-generation truck driver. My career choice is both demanding and rewarding, just like most things in life that are truly good.

Comments

  1. Brandon Beckstead says:
    September 2, 2011 at 1:48 pm

    This is a good topic Beth, seems like today it is getting harder and harder to find a good place to eat healthy and if you do it costs a small fortune.I swore I would never cook in the truck because I too hated the smell , but I gave in and purchased a 20 dollar lunch box cooker and it has saved me hundreds of dollars on food. thanks for the other ideas on food

    Reply
  2. Darren Friedrichsen says:
    February 10, 2012 at 9:05 am

    I’m fixin’ to hit the big road again and will be in quarters just like yours Beth so I’ll probably be utilizing some of your tips and a recipe or two. If I come across something that works I’ll pass it along too. Hope to meet ya out on the road someday.

    Reply

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