We’ve heard for years that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but we don’t hear enough is that it needs to be healthy in order to be beneficial.
That’s right, the greasy breakfast sandwich and sugar filled donut you may rely on just don’t cut it.
To get our day started right, we need an unprocessed, nutrient-filled meal that doesn’t force our bodies to kick into high gear trying to process and filter all of the junk. A healthy breakfast will keep you full, keep junk food cravings away throughout the day, and will provide you with long-lasting energy and focus.
But when you’re in the truck gearing up for a long day of driving, a healthy breakfast doesn’t always seems like a possibility… Unless, of course, you’re prepared. Making a healthy breakfast in the truck every day may sound a little daunting, but I promise you that after a short time you’ll not only find it easy, but also delicious and budget-friendly.
Here are my top recommendations that have been trucker-tested and approved:
- Oatmeal, but not the packaged kind! Stock up on a bag of plain oats for a couple bucks, and cook with hot water, milk, or dairy-free milk. Add walnuts, berries, coconut flakes, cinnamon, or even some dark chocolate chips, but skip the sugar! Be creative and use what you have available, and you’ll be an oatmeal chef in no time!
- Smoothies pack a tonne of nutrition into one drink. Start with fruit, spinach, and a protein powder. From there you can get creative by adding avocado, chia or flax seeds, or whatever else you have on hand. You can get a single-serve blender for under $20 at Walmart, perfect for life on the road.
- Energy bars, homemade of course, are great for those who like to prep some food at home before heading out for the week. Whip up a batch and keep them in the fridge/cooler for the fastest on the go breakfast you can find. There are hundreds of recipes online, so do a quick search and see what looks good to you. Most combine raw oats, peanut butter, nuts, cocoa powder, and maybe a little dried fruit for sweetness.
- Eggs… Scrambled, fried, boiled…anything goes! If you’re feeling fancy, whip up an omelette with any veggies or meat you have. Don’t want to cook them in the truck? Make little egg muffins by baking them in a muffin tray with veggies and cheese, and take them on the road for a super easy breakfast you can eat cold or pop in the microwave.
- Fruit is a great backup if you don’t have the time or energy to prepare something, so try and keep a couple of pieces of fruit handy for a quick breakfast. Apples, bananas, berries, whichever fruit you like and can find on the road! Dried fruit (with no added sugar) can be a great option for long trips that make it difficult to keep fresh fruit on hand. Some of my favourites are apricots, pineapple, mango, and dates.
- Water! This is a bonus tip, as it won’t provide you with the sustenance you need for breakfast, but you should always drink at least one glass of water to start your day. Sleep is very dehydrating, and your liver and kidneys need some extra water in order to filter out everything they process. Be sure to have this before your morning coffee so you don’t skip or forget it!
