Healthy Meal Prep For Truck Drivers Updated 2022

When you’re always on the go, prioritizing healthy meal prep for truck drivers can be challenging. Truck driving is a high-mileage career, requiring long hours in the car and frequent stops at gas stations, and it can be tough to find food options that are both healthy and satisfying. But thankfully, with a little extra effort on the front-end, healthy meal prep for truck drivers is easy and delicious! When it comes to healthy meal prep for truck drivers, look for fresh, convenient options like muffins, eggs, nuts, fruit, Greek yogurt, salads, sandwiches, soups, tacos, and pasta. These are all feasible options packing a nutritional punch in an easy, grab-and-go format. Truck drivers know firsthand how difficult it is to get a good, wholesome meal two to three times a day. The reality is that the job rarely ever offers that level of flexibility. But healthy meal prep for truck drivers is the solution! 

Eating healthy poses a challenge for truck drivers, as they spend the majority of their time on the road.  From roadside diners to gas station hot-dogs, truck drivers often have to resort to greasy fare during their travels. However, there are other options! While healthy meal prep for truck drivers may seem unattainable with the long inconsistent hours and the stress of finding fresh, nutritious foods, planning ahead of time can save you a world of trouble. With a little extra thought; however, healthy meal prep for truck drivers can be simple and the more you do to prepare before a trip, the more likely you are to reduce the stress of implementing a healthy lifestyle.

Check out our blog on the Best Exercises for Truck Drivers to get on the fast track to a healthier trucking experience, and read on to learn more about which nutritious options make healthy meal prep for truck drivers easier!

10 Ideas for Healthy Meal Prep for Truck Drivers

As a long-haul truck driver, healthy meal prep may seem far-fetched since you don’t have ready access to a kitchen with the necessary cooking appliances that make eating healthy on the road easy. And when you don’t feel prepared to cook your own foods, you’re likely to fall back on artery-clogging options that are heavy on the grease and red meat. While these options may be delicious every now and then, they’re best consumed in moderation.

Luckily, there are cooking appliances specifically for truck drivers that facilitate the consumption of healthy meals throughout the day. Appliances like a portable stove top and specially designed microwaves for semi-trucks allow drivers to heat water, pan-cook, and warm up healthy meal prep while the truck is idle.

Truck drivers can equip their rigs with other appliances like a crock pot, blender, mini fridge, and more by purchasing an inverter and power strip.  This not only helps you prepare your own fresh, nutritious meals while on the road, but it also helps you preserve your leftovers so they’re ready to eat later on. A mini fridge is also perfect for healthy snacks such as carrot sticks or apples, giving you a convenient and ready-to-go option for a quick bite. However, you’ll need to ensure that your appliances won’t exceed the available power wattage for your inverter. 

Find out how to properly store food in your rig with Truck Drivers Money Saving Tips.

In order to kickstart your healthy meal prep for truck drivers journey, you’ll need some healthy recipe ideas and ingredients on hand. With our list of 10 ideas for healthy meal prep for truck drivers, you’ll be able to appropriately plan ahead and know exactly which cooking appliances you’ll need to maintain healthy eating on the road.

1. Muffins

Muffins have a bad reputation of being unhealthy, but with good planning and strategy you can prepare healthy muffins with highly nutritious ingredients like oats, fruits, nuts, and whole grains. By replacing sugar-packed grocery store muffins with your own homemade ones, you get to choose which heart-healthy ingredients to include. If you like your muffins on the sweeter side, opt for dried fruits like craisins or fresh ones like blueberries. Don’t be afraid to include your favorite nuts, packing in the protein with walnuts, pecans, or whichever nut you prefer. You can incorporate your protein powder of choice in your muffin mix to increase your protein intake. Drivers can enjoy muffins as they are without the need of a cooking appliance, making them a customizable and healthy on-the-road option. Simply prepare them ahead of time and get to snacking!

2. Eggs

Eggs are a great source of protein and can be prepared in many different ways, like omelets, scrambled eggs, and sunny side up eggs. According to the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, adults 19 years and older should consume 46-56 grams of protein each day, and eggs are one of the best ways to get your daily protein fix while keeping your heart healthy. Eggs are a fantastic alternative to red meat and pork, which, while delicious, are best consumed in moderation. So when you need a protest boost, turn to eggs! They’re delicious and easy to prepare. You can also customize and increase your eggs nutritional value by adding vegetables and more meat for protein. Throw in some spinach or turkey for a nutrient-rich feast, and melt some cheese on top for an extra dairy fix! Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and eggs are an excellent way to begin your day.

3. Nuts

Drivers can prepare snack sizes of various nuts to eat between meals to keep them from overeating when they become hungry. Almonds are the most common tree nuts that people consume to get healthy fat, fiber, and protein. While you can buy nuts at virtually any truck stop, it is more cost-efficient to buy nuts at your local grocery store and prepare the recommended serving size at home before hitting the road. 

4. Fruit 

Fruit is naturally low in sodium, calories, and fat, making them a healthy meal prep for truck drivers. Blueberries are exceptionally high in antioxidants, which may reduce the risk of chronic illnesses like heart disease, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s. A common fruit that people enjoy eating is apples. Apples are high in fiber, vitamin C, potassium and vitamin K. Store fruits like berries and apples in your mini-fridge to help them stay fresh longer.

 

5. Greek Yogurt

Unlike regular yogurt, Greek yogurt has more water extracted from it, giving it a higher amount of protein. Greek yogurt is a feasible healthy meal prep because drivers can add their favorite fruit, nuts, or oats to it in order to get more essential nutrients in their diets. 

6. Salads

Drivers can effortlessly make salads within their rigs by putting a bag of lettuce, spinach, or spring mix into their coolers. With a salad, you can customize it to fit your cravings by adding a protein, grain, and vegetables to make a well-rounded salad. Chicken, black beans, tomatoes, and cheese are optional topping choices for your salads, but you can add anything to a salad to make it fulfilling! Salads are a great way to eat a balanced meal, combining produce, protein, and grains into one easy-to-eat bowl.

7. Sandwiches

Subway can be a healthy fast food for truck drivers, but sandwiches are a healthy and inexpensive meal prep for truck drivers. Whether you like hot or cold sandwiches, you can prepare healthy sandwiches with whole grain bread, a lean meat, and vegetables. Separate your toppings and condiments in bags or containers to keep your sandwich from getting soggy. Sandwiches are extremely cost-effective when you make them yourself, so don’t be afraid to load up your bread with all of your favorite heart-healthy toppings!

8. Soups

If you have a microwave in your cab or know that your route has a truck stop with an available community microwave, soups are a perfect nutritious lunch or dinner. There are many soup recipes that integrate numerous vegetables, protein, and grains that you can prepare in airtight containers or you can keep pre-canned soups on hand for a healthy meal. 

9. Tacos

Tacos are a highly versatile healthy meal prep because you can use the protein of your tacos in soups or as toppings for salads. Drivers can prepare chicken, steak, beef, or a plant-based protein as the taco meat. Be sure to separate your cheese, tomato, lettuce, and other toppings to keep your tacos fresh. Like salads and sandwiches, tacos help you get all of your essential food groups in one meal.

10. Pasta

Most pasta dishes are perfect for reheating and healthy meal prep for truck drivers. There are many pasta noodles that are low in carbohydrates or are made from plants, adding more protein to your meal along with your choice of meat protein. You can make your pasta more healthy by adding a light sauce and plenty of vegetables that you prefer. 

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Stay Prepared With Healthy Meal Prep For Truck Drivers From Truck Driver Institute

Healthy meal prep for truck drivers can be very simple when time is set aside for planning and preparation. Although you can pick up these items at a truck stop or fast food restaurant, you will feel better mentally and physically if you choose any of the healthy meal prep options mentioned above. 

To make healthy meal prep for truck drivers easier, find ways to incorporate items that store well so you have nutritious meals that last. 

Learn more about how to live a healthy truck driving lifestyle when you contact us today at (800) 848-7364!