Eating Healthy While OTR

I am a newbie, and still considering whether or not a trucking career is the right thing for me and my family. One of my major concerns is maintaining a healthy weight which will require eating a healthy diet without the benefit of a gym, grocery store and a kitchen to cook my own meals. Do the truck stops have healthy eating options that won't cost you major $$$? After-all, one of the main reason for driving is making a living, and not spending it before I get home...I know I can bring some food along, but after a few days it will be time to restock, and it does seem like one has a lot of time for shopping if you want to keep your delivery time commitments, not to mention where would you park at most stores?

Here is some great information for ya regarding staying healthy on the road:

How can I eat healthy on the road? Will I be able to cook my own meals?

FAQ: Trucker Health - Eating, Sleeping, & Exercise

Thanks Brett for the very good info. I read your book yesterday, tons of great information! And, thanks for creating this website, I have learned so much in helping my family and I decide if we want to make the jump.

If you are in the upper Midwest Kwik Trip truck stops usually have a small grocery and a larger selection of healthy eating option if you want to grab and go. I know Kwik Trips are mainly in Wisconsin, but there are a few affiliated truck stop chains that are similar. Just can't think of all the different names.

On a side note more than a few of the non truck stop Kwik Trips will have a couple truck diesel islands and maybe enough room for a couple trucks to park as well.

Wal-Marts used to be a fairly standard go to for shopping, but more and more are turning away from allowing trucks due to careless, slovenly, inconsiderate drivers out there. They either end up hitting stuff or leave their trash and trucker bombs everywhere.

You know pat, I really was happier not knowing what those where before you told me... and yeah they've ruined it at shippers and reciver I've noticed out here alot of them won't let us stay the night, I really don't understand how hard it is to put your trash and if you make trucker bombs in a trash bag and leave it in the truck till you find a dumpster or a truck stop with trash cans around... I keep garbage bags in the truck for my trash, the big ones and just throw em out when I find a dumpster or a can... it really isn't that hard and most of the Wal-Mart's I've been to don't mind you staying for a spell, only one I've found that is ragey is Lithia springs GA's Wal-Mart is a 2 hour limit.

Since you are mentioning Lithia Springs you are obviously in the Atlanta area frequently. I am pretty familiar with most of the food distribution warehouses and recycling centers in the area. As well as the paper product distribution warehouses and janitorial supply places. There are some who will give you the official "you can't park here". But as long as you mind your p's and q's, stay out of sight out of mind, you can get away with parking.

Since you are mentioning Lithia Springs you are obviously in the Atlanta area frequently. I am pretty familiar with most of the food distribution warehouses and recycling centers in the area. As well as the paper product distribution warehouses and janitorial supply places. There are some who will give you the official "you can't park here". But as long as you mind your p's and q's, stay out of sight out of mind, you can get away with parking.

Na, it's just my home terminal location, if I stay there at all I'm at the Werner terminal I ve only been there two or three times in six months, so many places I've been over the last few months, never been happier with a job before also in keeping with this topics thingy may I suggest op getting an iceless cooler from colemen, absolutely love mine, I abuse it as a fridge though, I keep milk for cereal and lunch meat as well as drinks in it, they cost about 100 or so and trust me when I say you make time for a shopping run, when I get low on supplies I tend to get cranky for some odd reason.