Eating Like a Pro

One of the toughest things for me to battle as I spend 200 or so nights on the road is what to eat. Try getting a healthy meal traveling down I-75 or in a Super-8 or Red Roof Inn.  It's just not going to happen unless you prepare! For me, that means always packing packing essential food items for life on the road. I figure, if you can cover a healthy breakfast, lunch and snacks, you can almost always find the time and the place for a decent evening meal. 

When I head out on a trip, at minimum I always carry with me, tea bags and sweetener, low sugar instant oatmeal, cream of wheat, protein and /or meal replacement bars, almonds or peanuts and microwavable Healthy Choice soups. It is also a good idea to pack an inexpensive electric boiler pot in case you don't have access to a microwave. My little food bin assures me that I will never go hungry while I'm traveling and can eat healthy throughout at least 75% of my day!

Around Every Corner

On my way home yesterday, I was traveling down the highway when the computer lady in the console of my Ford F-150 informed me that I had "50 miles to empty".

A couple of miles later, I exited into one of those highway oases that lets you fuel, eat, do laundry, shower, and if you got a few minutes, purchase some really cheap country music CD's and 90's B-movies on DVD.

I pulled up to an outer pump since they are always easiest with the boat in tow, put in my credit card, stuck in the fuel nozzle and set the catch to fill 'er up. I was pretty darn hungry too, and real tired of those sawdust bars I've been living on so I went inside to get some real food.

It is nearly impossible to get fast food that is even moderately healthy, but I did my best: I ordered two grilled chicken wraps with no lettuce and no sauce. (I hate lettuce and know ranch dressing is bad for you.) The modestly overweight lady who was pushing 60 years of age keyed in the order and then paused, staring at me for several uncomfortable seconds.

She finally broke the silence saying, "Young man.." (I was young to her I guess?)  "I'm sure you  are ordering those grilled chicken wraps to be healthy aren't you?"

I replied. "Yes ma'am, I am".

She responded by saying "If you are really trying to eat healthy, you would have me take the cheese off that and put that lettuce back on!"

I just kinda shrugged my shoulders and after another uncomfortable pause, she went ahead and put in my order, muttering, "He might as well have just ordered a Big Mac!"

That definitely proves that there is a critic around every corner!