Sooo, I've only been at this Trucker's Wife thing for about a minute and a half, but here's what I've learned: you never know when he's coming home AND every trucker's wife out there is wondering how she can feed her man healthy and inexpensive. The latter is my new goal. As an organizer, I have plenty of ideas how to pack the healthy foods and even how to cook the healthy foods. For most of us, though, the problem is if I cook for him and freeze it, he's gone for weeks at a time, so how's it gonna stay frozen? So, meal plans that don't require a chest freezer, that are healthy and economical, and that can be eaten cold or prepared quickly.
I am gathering my thoughts, taking pictures and making plans. As I prepare for his next home time and what I'm sending him out with I will keep you posted. Please feel free to share your meal plans and ideas. Let's get these boys eating healthy and keep them out of the Greasy Spoons!
I will include printable packing lists, grocery lists, and meal plans as we go.
You could try dehydrated foods, but not those mixes like from Wise. Go with the things that are individual ingredients like fruits and veggies, maybe some instant rice or potatoes. There's one called Daily Bread that has less preservatives and seems better. Hungry Jack has a hash browns in a little milk carton thing that will make a pound of hash browns, just add hot water into the carton and close it up. Eat half then and put the other half in the fridge for later. Add some tuna or some dehydrated meat with it. They make an electric tea pot you plug into a cigarette lighter that can boil water. Just plug it in to boil while he's fueling up, then mix the stuff and let it sit while he checks the tires and washes up, then stir it up and eat. If he's standing up next to the truck outside, using the rail or steps as a table top, then he's getting a bit more exercise than if he went and sat down to eat for 30 minutes, which is what he does all day while driving. There's also dehydrated beans and refried beans in pouches that he could mix up a little at a time. Instant oatmeal also. Seasoned tuna in 2-3 ounce pouches that are added to instant potatoes or instant rice, throw in some dehydrated veggies with it to round it out. Try to stay away from cans and their plastic linings.
ReplyDeleteI have the advantage of a trucker who comes home every weekend so freezing leftovers from big meals during the week is what I usually do. I have two other suggestions for you though. One is to meal plan for him. When I got with my husband I'll plan out crockpot (I'm assuming he has an inverter and conventional plug ins) meals for each day of the week. We stop at the grocery store on the way to the truck and pick up our ingredients. Each morning before we roll I put one of those handy crockpot liners in our crockpot, throw the ingredients in and turn it on low. It can cook all day - we've never had it tip over on us but I usually push something up against it that won't melt, just in case. At the end of the day or when we stop - we eat a nice fresh hot (healthier and cheaper than a truckstop) meal. Clean up is a snap since the liner just pulls out and can go in the trash - wipe out whatever moisture accumulated outside the liner with a paper towel. Leftovers go in a ziplock bag or a tupperware we keep on board. They can be eaten the next day or two. You can keep canned goods, rice steamers, or bread for sides. The other option is to can him some meals. Be it soup, stews, you can even can meats (venison, bbq, etc) - google is your friend for those recipes and tutorials. You'll also need a supply of jars and a pressure canner. Hope that helps!
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