Eating Cheap On The Road?

Cwc has an idea:

Dropping a trailer at the Pilot/Loves 2 blocks away isn't a bad idea either.

Well, this might be a bad idea after all. Many companies have strict policies about dropping a trailer on your own. Like, it may not be there when you get back. Regardless whether you had to buy a trailer kingpin lock or not, if there's a problem since you abandoned the trailer for just a minute, you will have some explaining to do.

Do you want food that's good, cheap or good for you? Now pick two!

I like the hard boiled eggs at Love's ($1.99 for 5). If you don't eat the yolks it's pure protein and an appetite suppressant.

After you've been around awhile you'll learn where the truck stops are that are close to shopping. If you're not willing or able to hike for <20 minutes there's always Lyft/Uber.

Here's a short list to get you started:

Love's in Springville, UT - WalMart on the other side of the overpass

Jubitz in Portland, OR - WalMart about 3/4 of a mile W

Pilot in Kearney, MO - Price Chopper about 1/2 mile to the SE

Flying J/Thorntons in Lincoln, IL - Aldi's about 1/2 mile E, WalMart about 3/4 mile E

Pilot in Minooka, IL - Dollar Store about 1/2 mile S

Love's in Ripon, CA - Safeway about 1/2 mile W

OR I-5 exit 103 a Chevron that wants to be a truckstop. Six parking spaces at best. Grocery outlet 50 yards S.

Heck, you can build your own list by checking what's nearby on Google Maps when you stop for breaks and resets. Explore and discover!

Cwc has an idea:

Dropping a trailer at the Pilot/Loves 2 blocks away isn't a bad idea either.

Well, this might be a bad idea after all. Many companies have strict policies about dropping a trailer on your own. Like, it may not be there when you get back. Regardless whether you had to buy a trailer kingpin lock or not, if there's a problem since you abandoned the trailer for just a minute, you will have some explaining to do.

Yep I see the signs all the time but in my experience a quick chat with a manager has resulted in 1 "flat out no you can't drop your trailer" in four years. The rest have been "for how long?"

Guess I should've mentioned asking for permission first. But I do recall being pretty uncomfortable dragging a wagon into a parking lot full of cars.

On a tight budget and assuming no fridge yet, you can’t beat a PBJ sandwich. Most truck stops have bread PB & J. That’s how I survived OTR training. Now that I have a little more stuff in the truck, I purchased a a fridge from Costco and a magic bullet and a foreman grill at goodwill. I make a smoothie (frozen mixed berries & greens) for breakfast. Lunch most days is nuts and dried fruit on the road. And a burger or brat for dinner. I also found humas and pretzels can be quite filling. So far I’ve actually lost a little weight which is a good thing.

I love my canned sardines man! When you get home OP, if you have a dollar tree or other 1 dollar per type store near you , you can get em for 1 dollar each (if sardines is your thing, might not be). Stock up! Same goes for canned tuna and canned chicken there.

Canned sardines packed in olive oil, pork rinds, hard boiled eggs, and avocados are all super foods: high in fat and zero carbs.

I mix cashews, macadamia nuts, Brazil nuts, and almonds in a big can and snack on these. Anything with peanuts (not a nut actually) and grains (bread) is low nutrition, high sugar which equals high numbers of carbs. I recommend a high fat, low carb diet.

Meat, Fish, Eggs, Nuts and Seeds, and some fresh vegetables are what you need. Coffee, water, and tea are all we need to drink. If it has a label with more than three ingredients, avoid it.

Also you don't need to be at home to go to Wally world. You need google maps... And you need to really look at the parking lot before you go into it. Also dropping a trailer at the Pilot/Loves 2 blocks away isn't a bad idea either. And occasionally you can find a truck stop right next to the Wally world or even a grocery store.

And Errols recommendations about water and flavor packets will keep you away from sugar.. I used to guzzle Pepsi like they were going to discontinue it. I highly recommend getting away from sugary drinks asap. Gatorade Zero is also pretty cheap at wally world.

If you have a decent inverter, grab a microwave and don't spring for the 1200 watt model just the cheap dorm/ 700watt. Or an air fryer. I think my air fryer sees more action than the microwave.

Otherwise I grab the premade salads and as much as I shouldn't.. The flying Js have pot roast and mashed potatoes.. I haven't had it in months but it's pretty good in a pinch.

Question about the inverter, I have myself a 400 watt inverter and I was looking at the 1500 watt one they have. Looks like some serious wiring, does it have to be wired to the battery itself? I doubt a 12v plug like the other inverters works right?

Any inverter that large does need to be wired at the batteries. Better check with your company for if you can have one first, then when they can install it in your truck.

It's not going to be something they will see as a do-it-yourself project. Countless trucks have burned to the ground from improper wiring installation.

Check your company's policies before hardwiring an inverter. Some companies prohibit hardwired inverters not installed by them. How old is your truck? Most newer trucks have inverters, usually about 1800 watts. If you are in an older truck, maybe an upgrade is in your near future.