Eating habits while on the road?

[dmulk]

Hi all,

Summer is close...and with summer, comes riding and a cluster of popular STOC events.

I was wondering what your eating habits are while on the road?

Do they significantly change from your normal habits?

Do you find you lose / gain weight?


For me, I *love* hot food....but I stay away from it while on the road. I try to maintain and even diet.

It was interesting.... I usually am a "juice guy"....but on last summer's WeSTOC trip, I found that I drink a LOT of water. The camel back helped with this! I found that I was no longer craving the sugar in the juices by the end of the trip. Quite a good habit to have!!


Cheers!

<D>

[dreddd2000]

Whether the bike or the car, I find that I tend to snack more than I do during any other activity. I try to make sure that any actual meal I stop to eat is a bit more healthy. salads, wraps, chicken strips, or light subs. Okay, so it's not the best, but it beats Burger Queen or McDougal's. :p:

[Bones]

Find bacon.
Other than that I try to eat healthy stuff as I would at home. It's not always easy to do that, but I at least I have worthwhile snacks on board. Those plastic banana cases (http://www.aerostich.com/catalog/US/Banana-Guard-p-18434.html) sold by Aerostich? Very handy.

[Coop]

Find bacon.
Other than that I try to eat healthy stuff as I would at home. It's not always easy to do that, but I at least I have worthwhile snacks on board. Those plastic banana cases (http://www.aerostich.com/catalog/US/Banana-Guard-p-18434.html) sold by Aerostich? Very handy.

Plastic banana cases? The guy who invented that must have drank alot of cheap Tequila. I know when I was putting away some of that stuff I invented snow angels one night. Of course the wings were added later......

[Mark]

There are some who feel that I don't stop to eat often enough when on rides...

I do like to make sure that I don't eat more calories than I burn on a ride...

Mark

[tdeboeser]

I'm a protein ( power bar, cliff) and fruit ( read: good carbs) kinda guy. And gator aid...nothing beats it... no even water.

EDIT: When I stop for a rest, I will eat a "Real" meal ( meat, veg, potato ). And I save my caffeine for when I really need it.


Tom de

[Papa Bear]

I drink water all day with usually a juice or chocolate milk in the morning and maybe a beer or two in the evening. I carry a large bag of trail mix and eat some in the morning and evening then have one good meal at mid day that's not greasy or overly spicy. Over the years I've poked fun at too many friends who had over indulged and paid the price with frequent pit stops while on the road.:rolleyes:
Sometimes there is just no where to stop to pit! :D

PB

[Schavlan]

I stay away from Coffee, Beer and meat. I try to drink as little as possible and eat as little as possible. When I do eat, it's heavy with fiber. Oatmeal for breakfast, and maybe granola bars for lunch. A salad for dinner.
In short, the more I eat and drink, the more I need to stop and pee and poo.
The LAST thing I want on a ride is Montezuma's Revenge or any other colorful metaphor for diarrhea.

[sparkinator]

Plastic banana cases? The guy who invented that must have drank alot of cheap Tequila. I know when I was putting away some of that stuff I invented snow angels one night. Of course the wings were added later......

ROTFLMAO :crackup :crackup

[alphafang]

ROTFLMAO :crackup :crackup

+1 from me
I carry my hexi stove on the bike all the time and have compo rations, I pull off somewhere quiet and cook, it's all part of the ride for me. I drink tea and instant orange/lemon.
I get some strange looks but heck I ain't paying for junk food, thats good petrol money right there.
Cheers
Paul

[BobInCT]

Chewy breakfast bars and jerky. The plain kind... none of that 'flavored' crap jerky. It's shoe leather... leave it alone :)

Ride safe... Bob

[sparkinator]

I usually eat one good meal a day. If I eat a good lunch, then I get tuna and crackers for supper. If I plan on eating a good supper (dinner for you yanks) then I usually eat some whole wheat crackers with peanut butter or dried fruit and nuts.

[greyaero]

My diet changes quite a bit on the road.

I've been on a organically grown food diet for the last 30 years and eat meat infrequently mostly free range or organically raised chicken. I also shy away from farm raised fish.
On the road if I happen to come upon a "Whole Foods market' it makes my day .

But what seems to happen often is I stop for breakfast after riding a couple of hours and eat toast and maybe an egg. Then for lunch I try to find a grocery store and buy some fresh fruit. If I'm camping dinner is canned foods ,beans veggies or whatever looks good and fast.
I try to drink lots of water

I need to make some adjustments I'm new to touring about

[NoBull]

Anyone ever stop at Waffle House??. I usually eat a small snack on the road, having a large meal when the day is done...

[dmulk]

Anyone ever stop at Waffle House??. I usually eat a small snack on the road, having a large meal when the day is done...


I've heard Curt has.....quite often!! :D



One of the scariest moments on a road trip occurred while transporting an ambulance from Florida to San Diego.

My partner and I made a midnight stop to get an early breakfast in a Mississippi Waffle House and it's the only restaurant that I have ever eaten in that the employees went INTO THE KITCHEN FOR THEIR SMOKE BREAK!!

We bailed immediately after ordering....

<D>

[John Anthony]

I try to eat pretty light on the road, but drink lots of Gatorade. I avoid greasy food like the plague on long rides.

John

[ChipSTer]

More water, more fiber.... Other than that, pretty much the same diet...
:cool:

[BamaRider]

I try to eat healthy, but that is not always easy to do on a long cross country tour.

Anxious to get on the road, I get on the road early and try to do at least 100-150 miles before the first stop of the morning. I eat a easily digestable peanut butter and jelly sandwich, with a diet drink. I carry the stash with me along with some canned chicken.

Lunch is usually something hot, low fat chicken sandwich, or other lean meat. I try to avoid fast food, but if I get caught in a bind, owell.

Look, nothing beats a good hamburger, so sometimes I'm weak, and on the road I'm weak more then at home.

If I had a good lunch I might skip supper, and sometimes in remote campgrounds I have no choice. On the occassion I find myself in such a place, why I have my canned chicken and bread with me.

A loaf of bread is cheap, I buy a loaf every 3 days to always have fresh on the ready.

Do not dimiss no fat candy such as gummi bears, Mike and Ikes, and Twizzlers. Sure they are nothing but sugar, but it is clean burning, and quickly digested, and provide instant energy boost.

I do eat more when I'm riding with a group, but that is a fabric of the social scene.

[planetoldchild]

I prefer to go to Safeway 's deli and get 2 buns, 2 slices of Havarti' or some other cheese, enough medium rare beef for 3 sandwich's and a good hard, but ripe ROMA tomato. Grab a small container of sprouts or a small pack of pre ready salad to have your greens, a couple bottles of water and when you stop in the middle of nowhere because the scenery made you stop n' take pictures, you are prepared... "LUNCH $5.00 not $25.00 in the restaurant, the best scenery???....free. The fresh air???.... A couple of squirrels to share lunch with???.....free. The way you will remember this experience later................... PRICELESS.............

[Mileater1950]

Jerky, trail mix, lots of water and gatorade. All done while traveling. Eat whatever I feel like at the end of the day. Get up, repeat :)

Bob

[Viggo]

On the road, I like a hearty (but not really healthy) breakfast. Usually bacon, eggs, hashbrowns & toast or pancakes. That is often my only big meal of the day. I carry a large quantity of trail mix and munch on that whenever I stop. I almost never have a lunch per se.

For an evening meal, I try to get just a sandwich from a deli or sub type place but I'm not above grabbing a fast food burger either. Assuming I've already set up camp somewhere, I might indulge in a beer or two before retiring for the night. I don't really camp, just sleep in a tent.

Other than coffee and milk at breakfast, I drink only water; no soda, gatorade or flavored anything during the day.

The main thing for me is to not eat too much. I hate that stuffed feeling when I'm riding and I don't feel alert.

A week long trip is a good time for me to lose about 3 - 5 lbs just because i'm not that interested in eating while on the road (as opposed not being on the road when I'm always interested in eating).

On those occassions when I'm not solo, I just go along with whatever the group wants to do. I'm not fanatical about anything.

[KrazyKooter]

If I'm trying to make miles, then I usually eat something such as a power-bar when I'm refueling or snack along the way (almonds are good). If I'm just on a trip, I will usually go to a sit-down restaurant and have a regular meal. I try to avoid chain restaurants unless I'm in a big metropolitan area, which I tend to avoid anyway. If I'm riding into the night, I make sure that the evening meal is very light compared to the mid-afternoon meal.

[sherob]

While riding... water/Propel/Gatorade only... I won't eat anything that might upset the stomach on the road.

When I stop for the night... then I'll have dinner. ;) Nothing for breakfast but coffee please if I'm hitting the road again ;) I just don't like to feel lethargic after eating breakfast, on the road ;)

[Austin city limits]

Before the price of Diesel forced my support vehicle off the road,,, and my waist size increased,,, this was what I lived on... :rolleyes:

[STimpa]

I like to ride for an hour in the morning b4 stopping for breakfast. I prefer to spoil myself with a good breakfast and go lite on lunch. Whatever I feel like for dinner, usually sit down (goes along with the whole reason for riding which is to slow down and enjoy life). I always carry a bottle of water that I can replace at the next fuel stop; nothing will ruin your trip like bad tap water, or just tap water that your system isn't used to. I always carry a few granola bars or nutri-grain bars in the bag to tide me over in case.

[BigTom]

Eat early, Eat often. That's my mantra!

I limit myself to 2 cups of coffee before sun up, ride a couple of hours and breakfast. A pretty big breakfast and carry on, lunch is generally a couple of apples and some nuts (almonds) or something on that order. Maybe a melon dish...Generally a pretty good dinner pretty early, bed and repeat. Keeps me going, with lots of water. I'll substitute Ice Tea for water sometimes, generally no coffee after breakfast....

[motown209]

Oatmeal if leaving from home,on the road ,a sitdown breakfast,
Lunch is a sub,or a salad from a grocery..
Dinner..I carry a pocket rocket titan kettle kit
Eating right can be the key to a good ride
MY brother and i stayed at a motel ,and cooked clam chowder and veggies..:biker:

[josephthreedogs]

I like to ride for an hour in the morning b4 stopping for breakfast. I prefer to spoil myself with a good breakfast and go lite on lunch. Whatever I feel like for dinner, usually sit down (goes along with the whole reason for riding which is to slow down and enjoy life). I always carry a bottle of water that I can replace at the next fuel stop; nothing will ruin your trip like bad tap water, or just tap water that your system isn't used to. I always carry a few granola bars or nutri-grain bars in the bag to tide me over in case.

Same regement, being diabetic I have food with me at ALL times.

[FOG]

On the road by 6:30 or 7, stop for a good breakfast about 9:30 to 10. Then end day about 4-5 and find a place for a good meal and a fine brew as long as I can get back to the nights lodging without riding the bike.

[mjhenne]

I like a ham/egss/toast breakfast. Meal replacement bar or two for lunch. Kind of partial to a 12 inch Subway veggie delite/whole wheat. Extra pickles and jalapenos instead of dressing.

If there is someplace interesting I'll stop there.

I tend to eat more if it is cold. Hot days very little food, lots of water.

[Texason]

When in the car on long trips I feel like I have to snack to stay awake.

On the motorcycle I never want to stop riding. I have been known to ride all day without eating, and suffering later with a headache. I have to force myself to stop and intake some calories. I get cranky and sleepy if I don't eat at least a small snack. The smallest bottled sports-drink I can find and a tiny package of "Combos" or "Ritz Bits" does the trick.

[BlaSTr]

It depends on where I'm riding and if I'm making miles but several things are fairly constant. Breakfast for me is usually instant oatmeal with some trail mix thrown in. I like coffee and tea but they tend to impede my riding. I'll drink one of those small canned juices (orange or pineapple) too. I drink lots of water and will fill the Camelbak 3L a couple of times a day with bottled water and ice. Mid-morning is a power/protein bar.

Lunch is around 1pm, after the noontime rush. Depending on what's available it might be half of a $5 veggie sub, a couple of $.49 pizza slices, or veggies and fruit. I stop around 4pm so I can set up camp in the daylight, enjoy the rest of the day, and get some respite from the heat.

I carry a stove, cook kit, 2 half gallon water containers and the 3L Camelbak. Most nights it's either 1/2 package of tuna or hamburger helper, stew, soup, or peas n rice with some kind of meat. I carry a few freeze dried meals for those days when a treat is in order. I also take multivitamins and mix up some sport drink for an evening electrolyte replenishment. I may also take a salt tablet if I'm riding in the heat all day.

If the area I'm riding in is sparse for shopping I'll shop the night before. I'm not a fan of the convenience store or gas station food choices. The reason for the stove and water capacity is so I can relax, enjoy a good meal, rehydrate, and relax. For me, the end of the day meal is homemade instant hot chocolate and a good sunset. If it's been a scorcher of a day then I'm more likely to have some cereal, cold milk, and try to cool down.

If I'll be hitting a town with lots of choices then I'll get some fresh veggies, fruit, replenish the gorp/trail mix bag and see what treats are available. Sometimes a speciality store will show up (Whole Foods, a good outdoor store) and then I can feed the craving without overdoing it.

I do eat out occasionally. Sometimes you pass by a place and the aroma tells you it's something special; so I stop. I try to eat smart and not eat the entire portion. The rest goes in a small insulated bag with a generous amount of ice hopefully provided by the restaurant (and if I can fill the Camelbak at the same time, that too).

[sagedrifter]

If I'm touring the food stops are part of the fun. I plan for food stops, research for special recommended places. Use the time to talk and catch up with the buds. I usually tour with at least one buddy, usually someone that lives in another state. We seek out coffee houses for lunch, they usually have something better than french fries and the coffee is better than gas stations most of the time.

Breakfast comes first thing and its the best availabe southern style, eggs, gravy, grits etc.. Late lunch after the rush and a dinner with mixed drinks sometimes to relax well after dark. I tend to ride and sight see till dark, most of the time I do around 300 miles per day once I get to the riding area.

When traveling on a time schedule I stop early for coffee and eat light snacks when stopping for fuel when needed. I easily average 65 mph when traveling on interstates. :06biker:

When camping I still eat out, I like to pack light and don't carry much food. :)

[curtspivey]

Two words: Eat Light. I made the mistake once of eating a nice big juicy hamburger and greasy fries. Then flipped the face sheild down. It was a nice hot day. I had to cover a lot of ground that day. What a mistake! The lighter the meal the better. My rule of thumb is if I am still a little hungry after a meal. That's just about right.

[saaz]

I tend not to eat anything too heavy during the day, as you tend to get sleepy. When stopped for the night I would not tend to eat anything different to home. For camping I would cook up my own food, mostly pasta/rice with convenient flavourings (mostly chilli based!)

[George]

One of my favorite "on the road" meals is pretty much any Chinese buffet. Invariably good, fresh, hot, lots of veggies. Gotta say on my recent 7-week trip, I only did this once. My bad.

Lots of "real" breakfasts, too much fast food, not enuff veggies and salads. Did lose ~5 lbs, tho.