Thursday, May 5, 2011

A Diet That is Realistic for Truck Drivers

A common dilemma for those with truck driving jobs everywhere is how to stay healthy while on the road. When on the road there is no time to exercise, and often times the only places available to eat are restaurants with greasy, fatty foods. Some may think it is impossible to be a truck driver and still be healthy, but that is not true.

There are ways to eat healthy while on the road, even when you have to stop at a McDonalds here and there. The first thing to remember when starting a diet is moderation. Too much of almost anything can be bad for you, whether it is a vegetable or a steak. In fact, did you know that eating too many carrots can give an orange tint to your skin?

A lot of diets out there say to cut out foods full of grease and sugar out completely, but we all now how unrealistic that is, especially when the only place open at four in the morning in a Wendy’s. The key to maintaining a healthy diet is knowing your options and arranging your meals accordingly.

In the morning grocery stores and stores that sell fruit smoothies are open. Try going to one of these places and picking up some fruit or a smoothie and perhaps eating a small amount of bread with it. For lunch, try having a salad. As un-enjoyable as it might sound, salads are truly one of the best lunches for a healthy lifestyle. The only problem is getting them to fill you up until dinner.

The best way to do this is to load it up and make it big. Add a lot of veggies such as carrots, broccoli, tomatoes, peppers, and maybe a few fruits, you could even throw in an egg or two to provide some protein. As a rule of thumb, the more bright colors the better. This will not only provide you with a much needed serving of vegetables, but it will also help you spice up an otherwise boring salad and will help that salad to fill you up for a longer period of time.

Dinner is usually a much bigger meal, and allows for more calories as it has to last you longer. Here is where you want to get your serving of meat. Try using a larger amount of white meat such as chicken rather than red meat such as beef. This is also where you want to watch your portions more. When eating at a fast food restaurant try not to get a large everything. If you do order fries, make is a small, and don’t order them every time. Mix it up with a side salad and as for your drink, it is best not to order a large Coke every time. Try keeping your carbonation intake to once a week and order lemonade or water the other times. Also, to make a hamburger more healthy try removing the top bun to lower the calorie intake.

 When at all possible, it is best to steer clear from fast food places and go more towards home cooking, but there are times when you’ve got to eat and that’s all you can get. As said in the beginning of the article, just remember to have everything in moderation. Try stocking up your truck with a more healthy variety of snack foods such as carrot sticks, raisins or string cheese and stay away from Hostes cakes as much as possible.
 
With these simple tips you will be on your way to a healthier lifestyle. While with this diet you will not lose ten pounds a week, you will quickly notice a difference in the way you feel. You will have more energy and your pants will eventually become looser and looser. Fell free to tweet this article on twitter or Click here to read stories on other CR England blogs.

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