Staying healthy on the road doesn't just mean exercising and eating right.
Being as comfortable as possible when you're away from home helps reduce stress and improves your mental health.
Because of this, I've included a lot of items here for the O.O. and company driver to help make any rig more comfortable.
I'll admit I cheat and rather than limit myself to products found in the truck stops,
I shop the RV section at J.C. Whitney online. I get a lot better variety and a lot better prices that way.

Note: All links go to either JC Whitney or other online retailers. I'm a driver, not a retailer or wholesaler.
Since some drivers have complained about the links to the adult sites, I've started an affiliate relationship
with some companies other than adult sites to help pay for Truck Drivers United, so if you're going to buy
products online anyway, I ask that you use the links here and in the borders as I get a small commission
on each sale to help keep Truck Drivers United up and running.

On this page: 12 volt appliances, Coolers, Refrigerators and Freezers. Outdoor Grills, RV Accessories you can use in your truck,
Laptop Accessories, LCD Monitors and TVs, Pet Travel Supplies, GPS, Tool Kits, Folding Ladders, Portable Toilets and more

When I found out I had type 2 diabetes, I did a little investigating and I was amazed to find out how many other drivers have this condition, as well as high blood pressure and cholesterol limits that place them in a high risk category for possibly loosing their CDL if they don't watch their diet. I also started looking more closely at the menus at the truck stops. Some are offering meals to help with cholesterol, fat and calorie intake, but most of the food they serve don't list the carbohydrates. Breads, pastas, potatoes, fried and breaded foods are all foods I have to place limits on.  Some truck stops will let you substitute certain items to a point, but not without an additional charge. Substituting individual items such as vegetables for a baked potato or rice, or getting fish or chicken that isn't fried or breaded can cost extra, and you all know the cost of a meal at a truck stop is expensive enough as it is.

I've carried a small, 12 volt stove in my truck for cooking things like soup for a few years now, but as I began changing my eating habits, I started looking at other options for cooking meals in my truck. I didn't just want to cook meals at home, freeze them, then microwave them later, but find some real foods I could cook from scratch without having to worry about freezing too much fresh meat or keeping fresh vegetables cool without them freezing.

I tried some of the 12 volt coolers at the truck stops, and I also tried some of the 12 volt appliances. Most did a good job, but some were in the dumpster within a month.  Whether they lasted more than a month or not, one thing they all had in common was the fact buying them at truck stops was expensive. I knew that I didn't want cheap quality products, but if I had to pay a premium price, then I wanted premium quality. I checked out Wal Mart and camping stores, but they didn't have a lot of 12 volt products. Then I started looking at other options and realized that the products made for RVs were as good or better quality than some of the ones at the truck stops.

When I started checking out the RV supplies online, what I discovered was that I had a lot of options, not only in 12 volt appliances, but in my food options as well. I was looking at a survival site to see what kind of appliances they had, and I discovered there are high quality, reasonable priced, and good tasting freeze dried meals available. Not only were they healthier than the fried foods or the hamburgers and fries, they were a lot cheaper. I had tried the heater meals when they came out, but they were as much as a meal in a restaurant, and to be honest, they weren't very appetizing. I was skeptical, but  since the freeze dried meals averaged out to be a lot cheaper than the food I could get inside the truck stop, I gave them a try. I'm glad I did, because to my surprise they tasted great!

Not only did I start stocking up on the freeze dried meals (they have a shelf life of seven years, so I can buy them by the case and they don't go bad before I eat them), but I also expanded my 12 volt appliances to include more than just one little oven to cook soup in. I've seen the little propane stoves at the truck stops, and I guess if you're careful they're an option for cooking inside the truck, but I'm not a big fan of using propane stoves or grills in my sleeper.

Even though I have and APU on my truck, I know a lot of drivers don't, and there are still more options for cooking with 12 volt appliances without using the 120 v. outlets on the APU or a large inverter. Truck stops have a lot more of the 12 volt appliances these days than they use to, but you can usually beat their prices shopping online.

An added benefit I've found is that when I do cook a meal from scratch, I'm forcing myself to relax a little in the evenings before I go to bed. I use to push myself pretty hard, get a shower and a large meal during the afternoon, then maybe grab a hamburger before bed. Needless to say, I wasn't getting very good sleep. Now, since I need a few extra minutes to prepare my own meals, I'm giving myself time to wind down a little at night before going to bed. I can take a walk around the parking lot to get the exercise I need each day, or I can kick back, relax on my bunk and watch TV while my meal is cooking. If I'm in a hurry or don't feel like cooking from scratch, I just heat up some water and add it to one of my freeze dried meals, and I'm done eating before I could walk into a truck stop and place my order... plus it tastes better, and it's cheaper!  So whether I'm at a truck stop, a dock, or even stuck on the side of the road because of the weather, I have a lot of options when it comes to eating healthy. Not only am I eating healthier now, I'm saving a fortune on restaurant bills.

I know there's times you need to get out of the truck, and I still go inside a truck stop and eat a couple of times a week, but the nice thing is, I don't have to do that now to get a good breakfast, lunch, or dinner.  Now I have the option of going to a dock the night before if I want, waking up the next morning and having fresh coffee and a real hot breakfast  instead of yesterday's coffee from my thermos and stale donuts.  I can also shut down at a small  truck stop like a Pilot or Loves that doesn't have a real restaurant, and I can still have a real meal instead of a burger.

The initial investment may seem like a lot, especially for a quality portable 12 volt refrigerator and separate freezer if you don't own your truck, but when you look at the savings on restaurant bills over the next three or four years, you'll find that you'll come out way ahead, and you'll be eating better as well.

Anyway, whether you're wanting to eat better, save money, or both, I've included some information and links here to help you find some of the products I found that make my life on the road healthier, and a lot more comfortable than it use to be.

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