How to Cook Healthy Meals On A Road Trip

Staying Healthy on the RoadDid you purchase an RV this past year or have you found you enjoy taking road trips? With the COVID-19 pandemic, many people invested in an RV, travel trailer, or simply went camping more in order to safely travel & enjoy the beautiful outdoors. When you are taking a road trip, you do have to figure out how you plan to eat. Fast food and takeout from restaurants may be your first thought.

Have you ever considered that you can eat great home-cooked meals on the road that doesn’t require much cooking at all? Of course, you can always make a grocery store run & cook just as you would cook a meal at home. But, this might mean buying all of the little things like spices, oils, etc.

In this blog, we share how to eat healthy on the road without having to spend too much time cooking. Plus, you might find you can get away with packing less.

Our basic cooking essentials – do you own the following items?

  • Portable Stove
  • Small Gas Barbeque
  • Pot, Pan or both
  • Water jug container (for cooking and cleaning pots/pans)
  • Soap/Sponge (for cleaning pots/pans)
  • Utensils and Paper Plates
  • Garbage Bag
  • Lighter
  • Propane Tank + an extra
  • A good cooler (if you are on a long road trip, we love a cooler that can plug into your car!)
  • Ice Packs or Ice Bag

Having the following items above is a great start. They don’t take up too much space and provide you with everything you need to cook, eat & clean up afterwards.

Next, how can I prepare a delicious, healthy meal with minimal cooking?

Batch cook.

Batch cooking is simply preparing meals in your home before your trip. Choosing meals that freeze easily are key. Once you have cooked your meal at home, throw it into the freezer at least 24 hours before your trip. The day you are leaving for your trip, load it into your cooler frozen then layer on your ice packs to keep it cool. When it is time to cook, all you have to do is reheat it using your portable stove or barbeque.

Some great food suggestions –

  • Frozen cooked burgers (turkey, beef, or chicken)
  • Frozen Chili or other soup
  • Meat sauce/vegetable sauce
  • Frozen breakfast sausage links
  • Taco meat
  • Foil vegetables or entrees (prepare vegetables or entrees ahead of time & wrap in foil – simply place on your BBQ grill or unwrap and place into a pot or pan)
  • Frozen pizza slices

How to re-heat your meal? Either place your frozen burger on your barbeque or add your entrée into a pan or pot to re-heat on your portable stove. Within 10 minutes or so, you’ll have a tasty meal!

Other meals that don’t require much cooking –

  • Cold Sandwiches
  • Hot Dogs
  • Yogurt
  • Hard-Boiled Eggs
  • Snack foods like rice cakes, chips, pretzels, trail mix
  • Anything that requires boiled water such as oatmeal or noodles
  • Prepared meals you enjoy eating cold (tuna salad, other cold salads, and entrees)
  • Raw fruit and vegetables

We hope you found new tips that can help you eat healthy while traveling on the road. While we can’t prepare your meals for you, we can ensure you have the best coverage for your vehicle or RV. Whether you are shopping around for the best rate or are looking to purchase different RV coverage, we are here to help.

How to keep truckers safe on the road in Gilbert, AZMaintaining a healthy lifestyle, especially during these challenging times with the COVID-19 pandemic, is very important for every truck driver in America. Here are four ways to stay healthy on the road.

  • Choose More Nutrient Dense Meals

There are a few ways to do this.

First, start packing your own meals.

Packing your own meals will not only save you time and money, but it can also help save you calories. Instead of focusing on what not to eat, focus on what you should eat more of. Food choices such as vegetables, fruit and other higher fiber snacks and meals is a great start. Want to pack your own meals? Consider buying a cooler that acts as a refrigerator for your truck. All you have to do is simply plug it into the accessory plug.

If you are dining out, consider choosing meals that are vegetable dense. Skip the fried food if you can or look up the calories on a restaurant’s website. All these things can help.

Again, instead of focusing on what not to eat, focus on eating what you should be eating more of. So, if you have the mindset of eating as many vegetables, fruit and other higher fiber meals, you are off to a great start.

  • Move Your Body

Driving = sitting for hours and hours on end. Many truck drivers may experience easy weight gain from lack of movement as well as high calorie food choices. So, find a way to move your body as much as you can. Ideas: dedicate 30 minutes of walking, make a habit of doing body weight strength exercises such as pushups or squats outside of your truck, or even find time to hit the gym. Any effort in moving your body is positive.

  • Follow Good Hand Hygiene

We all know the importance of good hand hygiene with the COVID-19 pandemic. Wash your hands often, but also wash your hands well. Experts say washing your hands for 20+ seconds and thoroughly washing between your fingers, on top of your hands or scrubbing the tips of your fingers is all beneficially.

  • Get Quality Sleep

There are many ways to get quality sleep, but the first step is making sleep a priority. Shoot for 7 hours a night. How can you get good, restful sleep? Create a dark environment, consider a white noise machine or wear ear plugs to block out noise, limit caffeine intake 5 hours before bedtime, limit or avoid nicotine and other stimulants and lastly, make sure you have a good pillow!

While we can’t keep you healthy or make your lunch, we can find you a great rate on truck insurance. Contact our agency for a quote with our top carriers to help you find the best rate. Contact us by calling us, emailing us or filling out a quote form through our website. We look forward to earning your business!

Commercial Auto Insurance Agent Gilbert, AZWhen many people think of a commercial auto insurance policy, they may think of big vehicles such as semi-trucks, box trucks, garbage trucks, etc. However, there are many variations of vehicles that would qualify for a commercial auto insurance policy.

How to Determine If You Need a Commercial Auto Insurance Policy

If you are using your vehicle or your employer’s vehicle for business purposes, you need a commercial auto insurance policy or endorsement. For instance, many people are working in the gig economy in jobs such as delivering food with your own vehicle or doing rideshare. It is important you have the right insurance coverage. If you do get into an accident where you are making a food delivery and damage your vehicle or someone else’s property, your standard personal car insurance policy will likely not cover you. Contact our agents with any questions you may have.

Here is a quick reference to help you determine if you need a commercial auto insurance policy:

  1. Using your vehicle to carry business equipment
  2. Freight transportation
  3. Towing vehicles
  4. Delivering food or goods (Amazon drivers, food delivery drivers, newspaper delivery)
  5. Using your vehicle to chauffeur people (Uber or Lyft Drivers, taxi service)
  6. Transporting material

How Is A Commercial Auto Insurance Policy Different Than My Personal Auto Insurance?

Since your vehicle is being used for business purposes, there are different risks that need to be insured. Additionally, the rating system used by companies is entirely different than a personal auto policy.  Each commercial policy needs vary, so have a discussion with your agent to discuss your specific policy limits. For business owners with many vehicles to insure, business auto fleet policies are available. Additionally, consider adding a commercial umbrella policy above and beyond your standard commercial auto policy to protect your business from a catastrophic vehicle accident claim.

How Much Does Commercial Auto Insurance Cost?

Just like your personal auto insurance policy, a commercial auto insurance policy is rated on many factors. Here are a few common examples of what could determine your insurance rate.

  • Driving records
  • Driver age
  • Credit history
  • The size & type of your vehicle
  • The number of vehicles you are insuring
  • What you plan to transport

Not Sure What Kind of Coverage You Need for Your Business?

That is where we can help.  Our agents can help determine what type of coverage will be the best fit for your specific needs. If you plan to use your vehicle for business and personal purposes, we can help you determine an appropriate type of policy. If you are only looking to cover your vehicle for business use, we can help find you the best rate. We will explain all of your options so you understand your policy. Get a free commercial auto insurance quote by calling or emailing us.