March is National Nutrition Month and the St. Christopher Fund (SCF) is taking this opportunity to empower over-the-road (OTR) drivers to make healthier food choices while on-the-go. For OTR drivers, maintaining a balanced diet can be particularly challenging due to long hours on the road, finite fridge space, few cooking options, and challenges going to the grocery store while in an 18-wheeler. However, the SCF is working to reduce the challenges to healthy eating one Healthy Habits class at a time.
Healthy Habits for the Long-Haul (HH4LH) is one of the many health and wellness programs offered as part of the Driven to Be Healthy umbrella program. All of the available programs through Driven to Be Healthy are free to Class A CDL over-the-road semitruck drivers with the goal of preventing some of the common medical illnesses that take drivers off the road.
Lindsey Bryan, SCF’s Health & Wellness Manager, believes that knowledge is power when it comes to preventing and managing chronic health conditions, and “it all starts with how we fuel our bodies”. HH4LH is a 12-week virtual course focused on making small, sustainable habit changes to reduce health risks and better manage conditions such as hypertension, high cholesterol, and diabetes. During the 12-week course, drivers learn about a wide variety of health-related topics including sleep, exercise, goal setting, and reading nutrition labels.
Nutrition labels can feel overwhelming but understanding them is a skill that empowers drivers to make healthier food choices no matter where they find themselves. By understanding what the numbers mean and how they impact various health conditions, drivers then have the opportunity to commit to new habits in a meaningful way. As an example, high blood pressure is a condition that often goes unnoticed until it is time for a DOT physical, but it carries a lot of serious risks that can impact the heart, kidneys and more. While there are many possible causes for high blood pressure such as stress and physical inactivity, an often-overlooked factor is sodium intake. Sodium tends to be higher in shelf-stable, processed, and convenience foods – foods more likely to be available for OTR drivers. By knowing how much sodium a driver needs and how to make a quick assessment of the amount of sodium in the foods available, a driver can then lean into the options that better support their health goals. These small changes add up over time!
While nutrition is a significant factor in many chronic health conditions, food choices are important even when no chronic health conditions are present. Balanced meals with protein, heart-healthy fats, and fiber help maintain steady blood sugar levels, preventing crashes in energy that can lead to drowsiness or difficulty concentrating – unnecessary risks while on the road. Consuming more foods rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants helps strengthen the immune system, reducing the likelihood of illness during stressful and busy driving schedules. Finally, committing to a well-balanced diet long-term is a proactive way to reduce the future risk of heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and more. Consistency in making healthier food and beverage choices can lead to reduced health risks and, ultimately, better quality of life.
National Nutrition Month serves as a reminder that making small, sustainable changes is key to long-term good health. The St. Christopher Fund is here to support drivers through these changes. It’s never too late to prioritize your most valuable asset – your health!
To learn about the St. Christopher Fund Driven to Be Healthy programs including Healthy Habits for the Long-Haul, please visit: https://truckersfund.org/healthwellness/ or reach out to Health & Wellness Manager, Lindsey Bryan at [email protected]. For more information about how you can support your team of OTR drivers as an employer, consider becoming an Employer Partner. You can learn more about partnership options at https://truckersfund.org/employer/. Top of Form