Have a Happy New Year! Staying Healthy on the Road—Part One of a Three Part Series
It’s time to gear up for the first day of 2020! The beginning of a new decade is upon us, giving us even more reasons to think about all of our goals to be healthier and happier for not only the next year, but the next 10 years. For NTB drivers, and those thinking of a career with us, we have a few ideas to help you get your new year off to a good and tasty start.
Thoughtfully Healthy and Delicious Eating
Within the last few years, eating healthy has become easier and tastier than stopping for fast food, as long as you know what to make to satisfy your tastebuds. From whole fruit and pre-cut vegetables at the grocery store, to quick and simple recipes that let you have a week’s worth of meals ready in your cooler, we’ve collected a few of the tastiest suggestions to help you get your year (and decade) started on the right foot.
Lean Protein on the Road
Do you have any idea how many different recipes you can make with a rotisserie chicken? One bird will give you a week’s worth of meals when used in some choice recipes. Check out these links for some of our favorite ways to use up leftovers and minimize your food prep time:
Rotisserie Chicken Salad
A quick chicken salad recipe would be great on sourdough bread. Just buy the chicken already cooked and add the fixin’s.
Find the recipe here: Rotisserie Chicken Salad
Tortilla Soup
Pull out your best thermos, because we have a soup for you! Keep the tortillas on the side to add right before eating.
Find the recipe here: Quick Tortilla Soup
Chicken and Cucumber Salad with Parsley Pesto
A high-protein salad that includes a super flexible staple—the chickpea!
Find the recipe here: Chicken and Cucumber Salad with Parsley Pesto
If the idea of preparing food on one of your days off seems daunting, consider that each recipe only takes about 15 minutes of time to make. With the main ingredient being a rotisserie chicken, the shopping trip will also be quick.
Snackables
Portion these items into snack-size tubs and keep them in your cooler for quick snacks that will keep you out of fast-food restaurants!
- Grapes
- Cheese cubes
- Carrot and celery sticks
- Cherry tomatoes
- Hard-boiled eggs
- Popcorn
- Nuts
Healthy Dips for those Snackable Veggies
If you’re looking to eat more fresh, crunchy vegetables, we’ve got a few ideas to spark some flavor into your meals. We all know fresh vegetables are good for you, but they are often just a vehicle for those common dips filled with fats and too much salt. These quick dip recipes will satisfy your cravings without compromising on nutrition or flavor, and you can make them at home to take with you on the road:
Hummus and Baba Ganoush
Garlicky, fresh dips made from chickpeas (Hummus) or eggplant (Baba Ganoush) are the perfect healthy dip to start the new decade off fresh. These tasty dips will fill you up because of protein in the chickpeas and the fiber that comes from vegetables. It’s also easy to make them side-by-side because only one main ingredient changes between the two! They are typically eaten with fresh vegetables and pita bread, so if eating all fresh vegetables seems intimidating at first, you can start by eating hummus or baba ganoush with pita and veggies, then slowly add in more veggies and remove the pita to maximize your veggie intake and reduce carbs.
Healthy Ranch-Style Dips
If you can’t stay away from everyone’s favorite veggie dip, which is not the best option when trying to eat better, try making this ranch dip with Greek yogurt or, for a little less onion and a delicious dill twist, this equally healthy version: Healthy Veggie Dip.
Summary
Making small, daily, and actionable improvements is the way to go when attacking a big resolution like eating healthier for the new year or the new decade. There is plenty of time to learn recipes that make your mouth water, while also providing you with all the right nutrition this year. Our hope is that 2020 treats everyone well, with good health and time for some good fun. If you have a number one healthy recipe for your driving days, share them with us in the comments below or on our Facebook Page.
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