Maintaining a vegan diet can be difficult under the best of circumstances, and driving a truck for a living is far from ideal when it comes to dietary restrictions. Spending long hours on the road and often having only limited dining and grocery options can make it seem almost impossible to eat vegan. But these four tips can help you eat a vegan diet as a truck driver.
1. Pre-Make as Much as Possible
It’s hard to find places that offer robust vegan options on the road. That means your first means of maintaining a vegan diet is to bring as much of your own food as possible. This has the side benefit of usually being less expensive than the food you’d buy while driving.
Meals and snacks that are stable at room temperature – like nuts – are best, but you can still make refrigerated options if you have a cooler full of ice. A batch of humus stored in a cooler is a delicious and hearty food that can get you through the day as a truck driver. And if you really want to go the extra mile, invest in a mini-fridge.
2. Focus Heavily on Nuts and Legumes
As someone who eats a vegan diet, you likely know that it’s important to understand how you’ll get the various micro and macronutrients you need to stay strong and healthy. Traditional diets often use meat and animal products to fill those roles, but vegans often need to get a little more creative.
Nuts and legumes are a vital source of protein, and they also happen to be great options for a mobile lifestyle like driving a truck. Be sure to plan your diet around these food types, supplementing with vegetables and other vegan fare in a supporting role.
3. Don’t Skip Meals and Stay Hydrated
While this is good advice for anyone, no matter what their diet is, it’s especially helpful if you’re eating vegan while working as a truck driver. A vegan diet can be just as satisfying and nutritious as any other, but it’s usually not quite as heavy with calorie-bomb meals heavy with fat.
That means there are no quick fixes. You’ll want to make sure you eat regular meals to keep your energy levels consistent. That’s particularly important because fatigue is a problem in the truck driving industry, and making sure you’re well-fed and hydrated is a great way to battle fatigue on the road.
4. Learn Your Vegan Options at Chain Stores and Restaurants
Eventually, you’re probably going to find yourself needing to buy food on the go rather than relying on what you’ve prepared before your drive. And that’s where it’s key to know which stores and restaurants you’re likely to encounter that have vegan options.
Certain chain restaurants like Taco Bell have various vegan options, and even places like McDonald’s now offer vegan fare. Depending on how strict your diet is, you should be aware of the risk of cross-contamination, though. Most fast-food restaurants cook everything in the same area, meaning the likelihood of some cross-contamination is high.
