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Feb 29, 2024

Delicious Multi-cooker Recipes for Truckers on the Road

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WRITTEN BY: BLOOM SERVICES

a man is sitting in the driver 's seat of a truck eating a delicious meal.

How to Eat Healthy, Well-Rounded Meals as a Truck Driver


There are a wide range of different benefits that come along with being a truck driver – but there are also a number of potential obstacles, too. In addition to the amount of time that you’re spending away from your friends and family members, living a healthy lifestyle is often something that people who are new to the profession see as an uphill battle.


Obviously, you have to eat and you’re often limited to the options in the area that you’re driving through. If you only rely on truck stops, you’ll find a lot of frozen meals or restaurants that don’t exactly cater to the healthiest lifestyle.


Thankfully, all hope is not lost. Not only is it possible to eat healthy meals as a truck driver, but you can also prepare them yourself and wind up with something delicious that you’ll actually enjoy when you’re done. All you have to do is keep a few straightforward things in mind and make sure that the right ingredients are at the ready depending on what you want to eat today.


Here are 15 delicious recipes for truckers.



Healthy Snack Ideas


Sometimes you don’t actually want a full meal. You’ve got a few hours to go before lunch or dinner, and you certainly don’t want to ruin your appetite, but you also need something to hold you over. If you head into the truck stop convenience store and look around, you’re likely to instantly see a lot of salty chips and sugary sweets.


While they can be tasty, keeping a balanced diet is important while on the road. The next time you go to the grocery store, pick up a few items to keep in your truck like:

  • Mixed nuts can be an additional source of protein to help keep you feeling fuller for longer, and can help curb those crunchy, salty cravings. However, if health is a top priority, be sure to try the unsalted or low-sodium kind.
  • Crackers, particularly those made from whole-grain if you can find them.
  • Beef jerky isn’t just tasty – it’s also an excellent source of protein with great macros.
  • Popcorn, which often comes pre-popped in a bag and certain brands even cater to the healthy lifestyle by forgoing butter and a lot of salt.

If you have the ability to keep things cold in your truck, you can also add in things like:


  • Fresh fruit, so long as you’re able to eat it within a day or two.
  • String cheese, an excellent source of calcium and vitamin B12.
  • Veggie bags, which often include baby-sized carrots, cucumber slices, celery sticks, and other healthy treats.
  • Yogurt, especially brands that promote probiotics to help support a healthy gut.



No Cook Meals

  • Wraps. Wraps are great in large part because they’re versatile. You could put together an entire chicken Caesar salad and, provided that you put a tortilla wrap around it, you can turn it into a delicious, healthy meal to eat while on the go.


  • Sandwiches. Sandwiches are an ‘old reliable’ when you want something that tastes great, but you might not have a lot of time. Just get some healthy wheat bread, low-sodium lunch meat, and condiments of your choice. 


  • Tuna/Chicken Salad. Tuna or chicken salad is another great, fast, healthy meal for truckers in particular. Whether you eat it on bread or get something fancy like a croissant, the tuna or chicken salad often comes ready to go right from the deli. Just add however much you’d like.



  • Pita Pockets. Pita pockets are essentially a cross between a sandwich and a wrap. Instead of bread, you get a pita, but you have every bit as much versatility as a wrap will allow. Whether you eat them fast or slow, they’re always delicious.


Salad in a Mason Jar. Meal prepping in a mason jar is not just for Instagram Influencers, it can be a space-saving way to make sure your meals are ready to go when you are–with the added bonus of everything fitting in your truck’s cupholder at the same time. To keep things crisp add your dressing to the bottom of the mason jar, then any proteins or ingredients that can handle extra moisture–like cheese or chicken– then add your veggies and lettuce. When you’re ready to eat, give everything a good shake and a stir with your fork, add some crunch croutons or wonton strips if you like, and just like that you’ve got a quick, on-the-go meal that travels.


Microwavable Meals

  • “Fried” Rice. Minute or bagged rice can be a great addition to any meal. To help it go further microwave the rice per your preferred brand’s instructions. While your rice cooks, beat an egg in a bowl and then microwave that as well in 30-second intervals. Once cooked, fluff the egg with a fork and add it to the rice, add frozen mixed vegetables, and a dash of soy sauce, garlic powder, salt, and pepper to taste. Microwave everything together once more till the frozen vegetables are warmed through. You can even add leftover protein, like chicken or beef, for a filling meal that will fuel your body for the miles ahead.


  • Loaded Sweet Potato. This is a meal you can make in as little as 15 minutes. Grab one medium sweet potato and use a fork to poke several sets of holes, microwave for 5 minutes. Once cooked through, cut in half and add some cheese, scallions, bacon, and a pinch of salt and pepper.
a tortilla with rice and a sweet potato next to it.
  • Layered Bean Dip. All you’ll need for this one are refried beans, any spices you’d like (like chili powder), avocado, sour cream, salsa, shredded cheese, and olives or green onions if you’d like. You can make everything a day ahead of time and keep it fresh in a cooler or even make it a few days ahead of time if you’re trying to meal prep for the week.


  • Veggie Omelet. For this one, you don’t even need a bowl – you can do it all in a microwavable mug. Just crack however many eggs you’d like into the mug along with your sliced and diced vegetables. Microwave for about 30 seconds at a time, stirring as needed or until you feel like it’s ready to eat.


  • Quesadilla with Pre-Cooked Chicken. If you have four minutes of spare time, you can make a Quesadilla with pre-cooked chicken. Just add half a cup of pre-cooked chicken to half of a diced bell pepper, some taco seasoning, and some shredded cheddar cheese. Wrap everything in a flour tortilla or two and put it all in the microwave. In just a few short minutes you’ll have a protein-packed meal to get you through the rest of the day.



Slow Cooker Meals

  • Hearty Beef Stew. Sometimes while you’re on the open road, you just want something warm and comforting. This is particularly true if you’ve been driving through a colder area of the country or are just trying to stave off that winter malaise. Thankfully, hearty beef stew is there for you – just put all ingredients like stew beef, veggies–like carrots, potatoes, even onions & peppers–broth, and spices into your slow cooker, and four hours later you’ll be ready to enjoy.



  • Chicken and Rice. This is another old classic for truck drivers that only requires the right ingredients and a slow cooker set on “high” for four hours. Combine garlic, salt, pepper, onions, chicken broth, cream of chicken soup, and uncooked white or brown rice in a crockpot. The slow cooker will take care of the rest, and you’ll have a delicious lunch or dinner.


  • Chili. Chili isn’t just great for truck drivers because it’s healthy – it’s also very filling at the same time. After you add ground beef, tomatoes, beans, and seasonings, set your slow cooker on high for four hours. You’ll likely still wind up with more than you know what to do with, so be prepared to store those leftovers for later, too.


  • Soup. Any kind of soup would make a great dinner for a truck driver at virtually all times of the year. Add your broth, veggies, and any other ingredients you’d like (like potatoes or meats) to your slow cooker and set it on high for two hours. Just make sure that you use low-sodium broth to help maintain healthy sodium levels.


  • Pulled Chicken. Add a few pounds of boneless, skinless chicken breast to your slow cooker (the actual amount you add will depend on how hungry you plan on being). Add some onions, olive oil, brown sugar, and any seasoning or sauce that you’d like. Cook everything on high for three to four hours. Once everything is finished, your chicken will easily shred using two forks, and you’ll be ready to go. Pulled chicken is great for sandwiches, wraps, or even with rice or potatoes.



Final Recommendations to Stay Healthy While OTR

In the end, it’s always important to make every effort to stay healthy, especially when you’re living a lifestyle that can be as sedentary as that of an OTR truck driver. But keep in mind that diet alone isn’t enough to get the job done. Whenever possible, you’ll also want to prioritize physical activity as well.


The next time you hit the truck stop, get out there and go for a walk. If your truck is going to be unloading for a few hours before you can leave the dock again, see if there is a gym or park that you can hit up in the area. So long as you’re able to fit in some type of physical activity in a given day (it doesn’t have to be a full workout), it and the combination of the meals outlined above will be a great way to keep you as healthy as possible.


If you’d like to find out more information or if you just have any additional questions about pursuing a life on the road that you’d like to discuss with someone in a bit more detail, please don’t hesitate to contact Bloom Services today.


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