driving and eating

Hi all, I need some idea's, I drive alot for my job, between 400-700 miles a week.  When I still smoked the snacking was not a big deal, I smoked instead of eating but now I snack constantly while driving.... I usually eat honey nut cheerios or low fat pretzels because they are both somewhat low in calories, and I have not gained but geez.... any ideas on what I can snack on.... besides carrots (I can only eat so many :o)  )

thanks

theresa

Ribena light drinks, liquid tends to fill you up more than actual snacks. 

Sultanas or raisins but you might get sticky fingers with them.  Rice crackers.  Water crackers - they both fill you up pretty well.  Dried fruit with no added sugar, just not too much or you might be stopping fairly regularly! lol

Hi,

A tub of vegetables is nice to mindlessly crunch on if you feel the need to eat.  Theres lots besides carrots (celery, brocoli etc.) or perhaps slices of fruit like apples, orange segments or berries.

I used to drive a lot for work too, and when I gave up smoking 6 years ago, I found that keeping a bottle of fizzy water in my car and having a sip when I needed to replaced the smoking urge.  I still keep one in the car, although the urge to smoke is long gone.

BTW - It does not have to ge a given that you will put on weight when you quit smoking, I took up running the day I stopped, and if I ate more, it was balanced out by my new exercise habit, and I actually lost nearly 10kg in the year I quit, without dieting at all.

Good luck with quitting - well done so far - you seem to be doing really well

Ax

Original Post by demerara:

Hi,

A tub of vegetables is nice to mindlessly crunch on if you feel the need to eat.  Theres lots besides carrots (celery, brocoli etc.) or perhaps slices of fruit like apples, orange segments or berries.

 Ditto on the vegetables. 

Yep! Raw cauliflower is the SHIZ! I also find that grapes are really filling and yummy...but they are a little higher in calories than some fruits/veggies...

Celery! Your body burns more calories digesting it than you put in by eating it!

Do you need to eat while you drive?

Dried fruit (including raisins) are very calorie dense, so they're not a good idea (IMHO).  1 ounce of raisins (about 60 raisins) is 85 calories and 17g of sugar.

Clint

Original Post by rosieblue:

Do you need to eat while you drive?

Seriously. How about you actually DRIVE and pay attention to a freaken road! I lost count of how many times I was almost ran over while drive was doing other things while driving: eating, talking on a phone, changing radio channels, looking for stuff on passenger/back seats, texting, reading! Want to eat? Pull over eat then continue driving.

UD

I agree with the comments to wean away from eating while driving.  I think it is even more dangerous than other distractions while driving.  Also, I think if fosters the "mindless eating" that is a factor in the western obesity epidemic.  Even if you don't have a weight problem now, why take a risk of getting one?

Put in a great cd and sing out loud every time you want to reach for a snack.  Pull over and have a stretch and a meal when you are hungry.  I promise you will get just as much work done in any given day, even if you take some driving breaks.

Thank you for the wonderful ideas,  I appreciate the responses

thanks

theresa

Have you tried just chewing gum? Or maybe keeping a giant bottle of water with you, perhaps with flavor packets so you get that "taste" that you've eaten something.