Question - I'm a police officer and I spent 12 hours on the street. It is INCREDIBLY difficult to eat right, because I can't just pull to the side of the road and eat every four hours. I may be on a call or doing paperwork somewhere. I'm doing my best but need some help.

I know fast food is awful but there is a Chipolte close and its really the only convienent thing for me. Can I get a bowl there, and if I keep it to white rice, black beans, chicken and lettuce - is that safe? Or am I skrewing myself? I'm staying away from the real bad stuff, to include the burrito.

Thanks all!
Marcus

I know exactly how you feel. I'm in the Navy and I am constantly driving vechical and transporting things back and forth. I spend alot of my time behind the wheel of a truck, "Humvee", or something else.

What I do is I carry either cliff bars or protein shakes with me. If do go that route. Make sure the nutrition is what you are going for. There are tons and tons of meal replacers out there. Cliff bars, Muscle Milk Bars, Tiger Bars, Power Bar, just to name a few. Cliff bars tend to be a little bit cheaper and I think they taste better so I go with them. If you go the shake route. Again, make sure the nutritional facts are within your diet. GNC's little brand usually works. I like the Whey Protein. But sometimes I'll go with Muscle Milk since it's more anabolic.

As far as that bowl goes. There is a TON of carbohydrates in that. You better be able to burn all that energy before it turns into fat.

Hope this helps!

Marcus,

I did some quick checking with an application known as Restaurants on my iPhone. Based on what you list, it looks like the meal would work out to around 600-650 calories depending on the portion size.

My only concern would be the amount of carbs consumed (a fairly high amount) and the low protein present. Still, if you work it into your daily diet plan it might just work fine for you. You might want to try it first on a day off, just to make certain that you're not plagued with cramps after eating...the carbs, you know! I'm assuming you're not eating the burrito or an edible bowl (sorry, but I don't visit Chipotle very often).

Phil has a nice suggestion...I'm impressed with how he keeps a protein bar in a solid state while in a Humvee. Mine melts in my pocket when I'm in an air conditioned building! It may be the brand he uses and I'll have to give them a try.

Thanks to both of you for your service to the country and keep pressing play!!

Kevin

I dont know what the regulationsare for you regarding food and extra equipment in your partol cars. But, over on engadget.com they have shown all sorts of mini microwave ovens and lunch box sized slow cookers that all are powered by cigarette lighters. You count get one of those vegi steamer bags and pop that in a mini microwave while your in your car. Or put beef stew in one of slow cookers and plug it in the morning and by lunch its ready to eat.
Just a few crazy ideas out there.
PS the food network did a show on these things too and they gave the slow cooker high praise. They said that you can pick them up at any truck stop.

Mrphil, kevin, bigfoot - thanks all for the responses.

Chipolte is great and I was hoping that with the black beans and chicken, my protien portion would be ok, but I guess not. I don't totally watch... or better yet, understand... the dieting thing. Since starting the program, I don't eat the horrible stuff I used to. No fast food, save chipolte, or soda. That in and of itself is a huge change. I also eat a lot more fruit and chicken that I cook. I try and tell myself that those changes, along with the p90x workout, will make a big difference. If I could only totally get a grasp on the diet though, I could rock it out. I need to sit with a nutrionalist or something and really get the low down.

I hate to say it, but my fiance goes on these research kicks every now and then about how evil the various fast-food restaurants are, and Chipotle was one of the worst of the worst in terms of fat, sodium, and massively excessive amounts of calories in any given order. Same with Baja Fresh, which no matter how fresh your ingredients are, when you load them with fat and sodium, is far from healthy by any stretch of the imagination.

Like others have said, I would definitely look into meal replacement bars, shakes you can take with you, and even left-overs that don't require heating, such as sandwiches and whatnot. If you do have to stop in somewhere and grab something fast-food, Subway is your best bet healthiness wise. You also might want to do some research and searching in your area to find out other options that could work for you.

But definitely be mindful of what goes into anything you buy at a fast-food place. Take a look at their nutrition info, and try to keep your daily intake in line with what the nutrition guide suggests.

Kevin wrote:

QUOTE:

Phil has a nice suggestion...I'm impressed with how he keeps a protein bar in a solid state while in a Humvee. Mine melts in my pocket when I'm in an air conditioned building! It may be the brand he uses and I'll have to give them a try.

Haha, Our HMMVV (Humvees), have AC units that are independent from the engine and take up the whole back wall. And they blow FREEZING air. So It's pretty easy to use it as a refrigerator.

Also Marcus,

Protein will help you "keep full." Since shakes and bars are high in protein. Mostly Soy Protein, it takes a long time for your body to process it. So eat more protein, just, don't overdue it.

My best friend is a paramedic and she says that it is hard to eat well because everyone usually eats out at fast food places. She packs a small cooler full of salad, chicken, veggies etc and either keeps it in the ambulance or at the station. She says that everyone teases her for being the health nut with a cooler...lol small price to pay though since she is the only one at the station not 15 pounds overweight!

Marymary, that's actually a very smart idea. Today I'll pick up a cooler! Good think'n

To all: So team members over at another forum I visit recommended http://www.myfitnesspal.com. I'm going to try it out. I thought I'd pass it on to you all is well.

Marcus,

http://www.milliondollarbody.com is better due to the fact its a beach body program. It's designed around P90X, Hip Hop, ect... Plus you can win some money.

There is a free sign up. Just make sure you hit the gold button not the blue. Unless you want to pay more for consulting.

I don't see the gold button, just the blue one, where they want to charge me money each week.

Glad I could help!

oooo~ dont forget Wendy's salads...
i especially like the Asian chicken salad...i use around 10% of the dressing...
and rarely finish the crispy noodles in the bag...
chicken and shaved almonds...and tons of lettuce? u cannot go wrong w/ THAT and for $5 too!
preparation time is zero!

subways are open at 7am...u should look into the 5 dollar footlongs too!

you should put the meals in your icecooler in the morning and eat them for lunch...

and put some grapes or cut up apples in a ziploc for snacks...
and try boiling some eggs so u can crack one when u're hungry~
you can easily prepare them the night before...

bars are always a great idea...
but remember, you shouldnt over do on the bars!

good luck!