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One trucker recently summed up, “I know it’s hard to eat right while on the road, but it can be done.”  And he is.  And if he can, so can you.

The ability for truck drivers to eat healthier on the job is greater than ever.  Coolers and cook stoves come in all sizes.  Most fast food restaurants now provide nutritional information.  Servers are more willing to hold the sauce, half a portion, or add some protein to a plain salad.  Foremost, we can access credible nutritional information anytime (see www.mypyramid.gov sponsored by the United States Department of Agriculture.)    

This month, I’m sharing a few stories I recently read online about truckers who are doing the work of better eating.  I hope these guys will inspire you to take charge when choosing what to eat, how much and when.  

Roger:  After experiencing heart attack symptoms while walking with his wife, Roger knew it was time to switch course.  “I had to change my diet completely.  I now eat a lot of vegetables.  Truckstops seem to serve up big platters of food.  I have to watch my intake, and always go to the salad bar first.”  He also brings simple food from home.  He makes sure to eat a variety of healthy foods so he doesn’t get bored and give into temptation. “You have to look out for yourself.  No one is going to stand there and say ‘Don’t eat those chips or cheeseburger.’”

Jake:  He weighed almost 400 pounds and had diabetes.  With information from his doctor, he began planning his meals.  He ate more fruits and vegetables and cut down on portion sizes.  He gradually stopped eating in truck stops and used his storage space for food and a small cook stove.  Most mornings, he prepared a hot, healthy breakfast on a make-shift cab counter.  He didn’t skip lunch.  For dinner, he again made hot meals on his cook stove or cooked outside.  Slowly, Jake began to lose weight. After two years – and daily walks — his blood pressure and blood sugar levels were under control.

Rick:  A long-haul driver for 30 years, Rick has maintained a lean 180-pound frame.  How?  “Discipline.  It is a habit you develop which you repeat over and over again.” He’s steered clear of smoking, stimulants and fast food as quick fixes to job challenges.  He chooses low-fat sandwiches, salads and lean protein; he always keeps a water bottle with him; and he takes a daily multivitamin.

Jack:  Longtime trucker Jack Kelsh lost 175 pounds by radically changing his over-the road-diet and following an in-cab workout he created. (He’s written a book about it, too.)  “A lot of drivers feel like they’re trapped in a situation where they can’t be healthy.”  Kelsh gave up fried food and, what he calls, “pre-chewed” – meaning, processed — food.  He prefers six small meals a day.  At buffets, he chooses baked or broiled meats, rice, vegetables and fruit.  He works hard to stop eating when he’s full.

Until next time, remember, small steps can lead to big change and a healthier you.  

If you have comments about, or ideas for, “Healthy U for Truck Drivers,” please send them to me at healthyu@bayandbay.com.

Sam Anderson is president of Bay & Bay Transportation and directs its Healthy U driver wellness program.