Professional truck drivers and the working conditions they normally face make a healthy lifestyle difficult to follow. This can obviously influence decisions with food choice while working. Educating truck drivers and presenting them ways to improve their diet during trips by offering small changes might help support dietary changes in this particular population.
Eat often and reasonable portions
Portion sizes have increased over the years, and food is everywhere. And faced with an abundance of food, we have a hard time saying no, according to a 2015 review of 72 studies published by the Cochrane Library.
Eating smaller meals more often not only helps keep drivers awake and alert, but it also keeps their metabolism revved to the maximum throughout the day.
Avoid processed carbs and sugars
Carbohydrates provide the body with energy, but not all carbohydrates are the same. Refined carbs do not provide lasting energy, and eating too many may cause health problems. As most drivers know, carbohydrates and sugars lead to weight gain.
There are some easy ways to avoid refined carbs. A person can make healthful decisions, such as eating fruit if they want something sweet and opting to eat brown rice or whole grain bread rather than white rice or bread.
Be careful about beverage choices
While some people gain weight because of what they eat, many more gain weight because of what they drink.
Keep in mind, though, that fruit drinks, fruit flavored beverages and soft drinks contain added sugars and sweeteners – they should be an occasional treat, not an everyday beverage. Sugar-sweetened drinks of this type should not be used at all by people with diabetes.
Sugary drinks to watch out for: lattes or any coffee beverage, soda, fruit juices, bottled or canned iced tea.
Healthier beverage choices: Water’s always the best option.
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