Catching a bite to eat can be challenging for fleet drivers, whether you run a local route or do long hauls across the country. Eating while driving is not advised, and there should always be time for lunch. But let's face it: many drivers catch a meal behind the wheel to make up time in the middle of a route.
The problem is that often drivers do eat on the road. Lunch breaks may be poorly timed, and it may be necessary to delay a lunch break to make up for lost time with clients. Longer hauls are even more likely to result in eating behind the wheel. The challenge drivers face, then, is eating safely. Not all "road food" is safe to eat while driving, and messy food can cause more problems than it's worth.
For drivers who sometimes have to catch calories on the go, here's a list of reasonably healthy hand-foods that won't make a mess.
Self-Encapsulated Hand Meals
Most truckers agree that hand-meals - meals that are self-encapsulated and can be eaten one-handed - are the ideal solution to driving and eating at the same time. The right sandwich or folded-over pastry meal can make a big difference in providing nourishment without causing unnecessary risk.
But cleanliness matters. A dry well-seasoned burger is much safer than a sloppy, dripping burger; just as a perfectly packed calzone is safe while a molten overflowing calzone is not.
- Clean Sandwiches and Burgers
- Sandwiches and burgers are your go-to handmeals. But they are not actually self-encapsulated. The open sides can potentially lead to disaster.
- Not-Overstuffed Calzones and Empanadas
- Also: Piroshkis, Hand-Pies, and Turnovers
- Fold-over meals can be much safer - if they are properly packed and cool enough to eat. The name of these fold-overs depends on where in the world the recipe comes from. They could be calzones, empanadas, piroshki - they look the same but taste very different.
- Tidy Pita Pockets
- A pita pocket is halfway between a sandwich and a turnover, cut in half with one open side stuffed with sandwich goods.
- Non-Sloppy Burritos and Salad Wraps
- Burritos and salad wraps can be perfect, but only if they are also cool and not overstuffed.
- Some Egg Rolls
- Some egg rolls are perfect for the road, and some are made of molten grease and fried veggie filling. Know your egg roll.
Organizer and Door Pocket Foods
Many an experienced driver uses their door pockets or a hanging pocket organizer to stay safe on the road with everything within reach. Foods that fit into these accessible pockets make excellent road food.
- Pocket of Nuggets, Pocket of Fries
- Fast food serves nuggets and fries in the same kind of cardboard cup that slips neatly into your door pocket or organizer. This makes it easy to grab one careful bite at a time without taking your eyes off the road.
- Veggie Cup and Dip Cup
- If you need some veggies in your diet, create a cup of cut broccoli or carrots and carefully place a dip cup in a deep pocket or cup holder.
Meals On Sticks
If dry enough to handle on the go, meals on sticks are another great driving option. If it's on a stick, you can eat it with one hand and your eyes on the road.
- Dry Kebabs and Skewers
- You can put just about anything on a kebab or skewer. Roasted meat, fresh or roasted vegetables, non-drippy barbecue, or even fresh fruit can be skewered and more safely eaten on the road. Place your skewers top-down into a cup in the cupholder for a safe docking station.
- Corndogs
- If you're in a rush, some fast food places serve corndogs which make pretty great road food and can be similarly stored in your cupholder to be eaten one at a time without getting your hands messy.
Single Bite Meals
Foods that can be eaten in a single bite - or two non-messy bites - make for safe and fast on-the-road eating, as well. There are tons of snacks and meal-bites that could be added to your driving menu.
- Mini Quiche & Egg Bites
- Mini Tarts
- Mini Tacos
- Mini-most things make good road food. Mini quiche and their homemade equivalent - egg cups - are good food, while mini tarts and mini tacos are often baked into a single bite treat.
- Meal Bars
- Meal bars are like candybars, only better. Energy bars, fruit bars, and nut bars all fall into this category.
- Breakfast Muffins
- Breakfast muffins tend to be denser and less crumbly than traditional muffins and are sometimes cooked with savory breakfast foods instead of cake and blueberries.
- Cheesy Biscuits
- Cheese biscuits have some protein and calories for a one-handed meal in a pinch.
- Quesadilla Triangles
- Quesadillas that have cooled a little stick together and are some of the least messy open-sided foods you can eat in one bite per triangle.
Meals With a Straw
Lastly, you can get a few meals on the go by taking the liquid calories route. Meals through a straw are the safest for tough conditions where you cannot handle the risk of crumbs or spills at all.
- Fresh and Bottled Smoothies
- Fresh or bottled smoothes in a covered cup with a straw can help replenish your micronutrients on a burger-fueled run.
- Ensure
- Ensure is a meal replacement shake for people who are ill or elderly, and they're great if you have an upset stomach from too much road food or changing climate conditions.
- Protein Shakes
- Protein shakes can keep your macronutrients up and often come with daily vitamins and minerals.
Don't Let a Sloppy Burger End Your Run
Eat safely on the road by choosing your road food carefully. Look for foods that are safely self-encapsulated, on sticks, or in tidy cups. You can aim for good nutrition and foods that are safe to eat behind the wheel at the same time, like a banana (105 calories). Contact us for more interesting and essential fleet insights.
