I have a route that I travel for work. So I don't have an official break room. The break room is actually my work vehicle. It used to be quite convenient to eat on the go, however with the massive shortage in humans that are willing to work, eating on the go is becoming a lot more difficult. The usual places are rife with far more issues than they used to be. Is anybody else on the road? What are you doing?
have you found an establishment with a drive-through that actually generally has it together? On my end Taco Bell, Dairy Queen, McDonald's, they have all been horrid experiences consistently over the past year.
And yes I know I should be eating healthier, and yes I know I should just be bringing my own lunch, but that tends to be a big hassle for my wife and I are considering we both work a lot.
What are some ideas for lunch that I could bring that is simple? And can vary! The same sandwich and chips every day gets really old
I've been hitting Publix for the last 15 months. Usually I eat chicken tenders but it's a grocery store so I can have anything that strikes my fancy.
In reply to Stampie :
Grocery stores have been all right, especially during the pandemic. But lately they kind of freak me out. The amount of people being shot in grocery stores is ludicrous.
Countingcrowbars said:
The same sandwich and chips every day gets really old
Nope. I've eaten a turkey or ham on provolone cheese and mustard on a Gonnella type roll for 30 years. Chips and a piece of fruit. Monday thru Thursday.
On Friday I grab lunch out. Panda Express with the big plate. Lo Mien noodles, 2 sides of veggies, and the glazed chicken and water. Do the survey on the receipt to get one side free.
This scaled way back.
I usually pack a lunch. Then find a shady parking lot or a park to stop and eat lunch. I didn't have a set route so I would stop wherever suited my fancy. Sometimes it was just a parking lot. Sometimes it was the beach.
Unfortunately, I'm not on the road as much anymore. I still regularly pack a lunch but the view is usually just my desk.
Tortillas filled with leftovers or lunch meats is an easy one.
We did cold pizza for lunch recently as that's really easy to eat in a car.
Another option is veggies like baby carrots, celery, with cheese sticks (string cheese), and maybe pepperoni slices.
I try and avoid drive fast food but when I travel I sometimes eat it for expediencies sake. When that happens Wendy's, Subway and Sonic are my choices.
Datsun310Guy said:
On Friday I grab lunch out. Panda Express with the big plate.
I used to love panda, but the last three times I went there, my food had a random "unidentifiable" piece of (food?) in it. The second time I showed the managers, they said it was chicken. I said chicken isn't crusty, and powdery, and tastes bitter. The third time I went back (during covid) a guy nearly got into a fist fight with me over where I was standing in line. He wanted me more than 6ft away. I told him I'll stand where the cdc tells me. He said I need to "know my place". I told him "my place will be standing next to your car, waiting for you outside." The police were called. I don't go to Panda Express.
In reply to Countingcrowbars :
First thing for my 2 veggie side is to complain. Make me some new veggies, those look awful.
Countingcrowbars said:
In reply to Stampie :
Grocery stores have been all right, especially during the pandemic. But lately they kind of freak me out. The amount of people being shot in grocery stores is ludicrous.
You must go to different grocery stores than I do.
Are you in the same area everyday at lunch time ? Or do you have to find new places every day ?
they make small 12v ovens for truckers , or something to heat soup or chili and bring some veggies and bread ?
I will admit to sometimes eating like a douche - McD, Wendys, BK.
If you're not scrimping pennies, many Paneras have drive thru now and I think you can call ahead and tell them it's for drive-thru. Good grub, but not cheap.
Grocery stores have been great for me. Our big chain around here is Giant, but we're getting a few Wegmans. Talk about awesome food. Wegmans near us basically has an entire double-width aisle with hot and cold bars in the middle. Seafood, sushi, comfort, asian, indian, mediterranean, italian, fried chicken, meatloaf, soups, paninis, mexican, salads. And it's all delicious.
If you shop carefully, sometimes convenience stores can be wonderful too. Granted, they're more on the fast food side of things, but many of them make fresh subs. Wawa, Sheetz, Rutters, Turkey Hill, that kind of joint. Just be careful what you order. Maybe a turkey sandwich and a yogurt instead of chicken fingers and a greaseburger.
I eat the same meal for lunch every day, and I'm happy. I am not posting this as a suggestion, more because I'm an outlier in this thread.
An apple, unsalted mixed nuts. If I've been baking there will be a slice of sourdough banana bread or my sourdough cinnamon swirl date bread or whatever else I might have made, otherwise a granola bar of some sort. Finish up with some dark chocolate.
In reply to Countingcrowbars :
When I was a route driver,I used to notice small mom& pops places along my route.
I'd ask my customers about them and try ones that came highly recommended.
If I didn't have customers nearby to ask I'd look for traffic during the non-meal hours. Assuming if it was good then they would be worth trying.
The great thing is meals there tended to be less expensive than fast food. Even with the tip involved.
84FSP
UltraDork
7/6/21 7:18 p.m.
I like the Panera app to order ahead and grab a decent healthy ish meal for fast food prices. Pretty fast and I feel a lot better doing that or subway vs fried ish.
I'm not a fan of Chik fil A... it's just a mediocre chicken sandwich. However, the serves is always stellar.
It's easy to eat like crap on the road. My answer is to have fewer meals, but work hard to try to have the sit downs when I can. Slightly better food at places like Panera and even Zaksby's (and I can afford them easier with fewer meals)
I always grab extra fruit and such at the hotel breakfast. It's a healthier snack throughout the day.
Plus 1 on the Chik Fil A. Their basic sandwich is OK as long as it's been sitting in a cooler for a while. The rest of their stuff isn't worth the crowds.
Plus 1 on the sit-down meals as well. Today was a road day but I didn't pack a lunch. Instead, I stopped at a Chinese place I know of. Not exactly good for you but very good food. A booth and a book make for a peaceful stop in the middle of the day. I may need a nap though.
If really in a hurry, nothing beats a Cliff bar.
In reply to Mndsm :
Wish we had Publix out here.
I have protein shake, dried fruit, nuts, and a bag of chips. Doesn't have to be refrigerated, I buy everything in bulk and bring it with me.
My wife used to snag one of the various tuna snacks and an avocado for lunches and loved it.
Personally I've had so many sandwiches over the years I'm kinda done with sandwiches. I usually grab fast food or a big bag of jerky
84FSP
UltraDork
7/8/21 7:40 a.m.
SVreX (Forum Supporter) said:
I'm not a fan of Chik fil A... it's just a mediocre chicken sandwich. However, the serves is always stellar.
It's easy to eat like crap on the road. My answer is to have fewer meals, but work hard to try to have the sit downs when I can. Slightly better food at places like Panera and even Zaksby's (and I can afford them easier with fewer meals)
I always grab extra fruit and such at the hotel breakfast. It's a healthier snack throughout the day.
I like the Hampton and Hilton chains for their to-go grab bags on the counter free that usually have a muffin, fresh fruit, and a water. That buys me 2-4hrs of decent calories without having to stop the drive.
I am on the road two or three days a week looking at jobs and I do basically what Frenchyd does. Try and find a local place. If the fast food place is the only option I get a salad with a protein on it. I would rather have a salad with a side of tuna salad then a large tuna sub. Same for grilled chicken. I try and stay away from the burger and anything fried.
