Whether you are a new truck driver or have been in the business for many years, it is never too late to improve your health by eating better. It is easy to grab a few chili dogs smothered in cheese, but they don’t offer many nutritional benefits. It is essential to form good habits and integrate them into your lifestyle. It’s not just about what you eat but also how you shop for food.
How Often to Eat
Lots of people think they should only eat three times a day, but you might need to eat more often. It is often more efficient to eat a few times a day and get back on the road, but you should actually go for around five smaller meals. This will help you to metabolize food efficiently.
Your body absorbs calories and then burns them off by breaking them down into glucose. However, if you overwhelm your body with glucose, you can increase your risk of diabetes. Eating three larger meals each day can overwhelm the system since you have extreme highs and lows in your blood sugar levels.
When you wait to eat until you are too hungry, your body will tell you to eat more because it thinks it is starving. This is another reason to eat five smaller meals throughout the day rather than three larger ones. It is also easier to eat convenient and unhealthy food when your body thinks it is starving.
How Much Food to Eat
Some people think that you should eat much less overall. Although eating less can tell your body to burn stored fat, you might end up storing everything that you eat, which can cause you to begin to gain weight again.
Instead, just regularly eat reasonable amounts of food. Eating several smaller meals is a middle-of-the-road approach that will help you to feel more satisfied. Aim for around 2,000 to 2,500 calories each day, but remember to ALWAYS consult with your doctor about the right number of calories for you.
It is also safer for you to avoid spikes in your blood sugar. You will not be as likely to feel drowsy behind the wheel. Many people have experienced sleepiness after a large dinner, and it is harder for them to keep their eyes open. That might be fine on a holiday, but it is disastrous when you are on the road.
Don’t Feel Bad About ‘Cheating’
Remember, it’s all about controlling your portions. Controlling how often, how much, and what you eat can help you to make more sustainable and sensible choices. That can help you to prevent many of the health risks associated with trucking.
You don’t have to give up all of the foods you love and eat only carrots and kale. Instead of going to one extreme or the other, stay between the lines with a balanced diet that will put you on the road to having better health. Extremes are not sustainable, and going from one extreme to the other is not a good choice. So, if you try to eliminate unhealthy but delicious foods entirely, you might find that you can’t stick to healthier choices at all.
Closing Thoughts
Healthy eating is the foundation of a healthy life, especially when you spend so long sitting in the cab of a truck. It’s often hard to eat well when you are on the road for many weeks, and it is hard to store foods, particularly healthy ones properly. Luckily, you can still create healthy habits that will help you to be around for a long time and enjoy lots of family time even after you are no longer on the road. So consider creating these healthy habits now while you are on the road so that you’ll be able to spend plenty of time with your family in the future.