As a truck driver or a warehousing team member, you’re no stranger to long hours, tough shifts and a lot of hard work. But here’s something you might not always think about – the food and drinks you consume on the job can have a big impact on your mood, energy and mental sharpness. When you’re putting in long hours on the road or in a warehouse, it’s easy to grab whatever’s quickest to eat – like a pie, some chips or a sugary snack. That stuff might give you a quick burst of energy, but later it’ll have you feeling sluggish, tired and even moody. Poor food choices can affect your brain function, your concentration and your overall mental health, and they don’t do your mind or body any favours in the long run.
That’s where Healthy Heads in Trucks & Sheds (Healthy Heads) comes in. We’re all about getting people in our sector to make better, healthier food choices for themselves and their workplaces. That’s why we’ve teamed up with the National Nutrition Foundation to create a bunch of resources to help educate and raise awareness about nutrition. These new information packages aim to make it easier for everyone working in our sector to choose foods and drinks that keep them feeling physically, and mentally, good to go.
Our nutrition information packages, which are full of useful info for drivers, warehouse team members and businesses, are free and easy to find on our website. Nutrition can be complicated, so we’ve made sure these materials break everything down into bite-sized, easy-to-understand pieces of advice that you can follow the next time you’re looking at a fridge, freezer or shelf. The information package includes a series of downloadable posters, infographics, recipes and social media tiles, all of which can be displayed at work and shared with mates.
Some of the key lessons you’ll learn from these posters and infographics are how to swap fatty foods and sugary treats for healthier alternatives that keep you feeling better throughout the day. You’ll also learn how to build a healthier lunchbox with balanced, nutrient-packed foods, read nutritional information panels on foods to make smarter food choices and pick snacks that keep you energised and help you fight off energy slumps and tackle fatigue while on the road or at work.
MORE OWNERDRIVER TRENDING STORIES:
- Floods cause Bruce Highway closures
- SRV Road Freight acquires food and beverage carrier
- December TOTM: AKV Haulage’s tribute truck
- Works to repair busy Western Highway for grain trucks
- Historic funding announced for the Bruce
Another way we make more nutritious food available is through our bp Healthier Choices Menu, currently available at 32 bp sites. This menu is perfect for truck drivers on the go and is a 24-hour option that offers freshly cooked meals that are all rated green according to the Victorian government’s Healthy Choices food guide. Best of all, users of the Healthy Heads App will receive an instant $5 discount on select items when purchasing from this menu. So, the next time you pull into a bp truck stop, why not go for the healthier choice instead?
We also have Nutrition in Sheds, a new pilot program focused on getting healthy food options into sheds and warehouses to make sure that, no matter where you work, you have access to healthier food that fuels your body and mind throughout the day.
With the support of Be Fit Foods, we also trialled some ready-made, easily transportable meals. This trial program led by dietitians proved that access to dietitian-designed meals can help truck drivers and warehousing team members lose weight and improve their quality of life. Healthy Heads is now working closely with Be Fit Foods to promote the results of this eye-opening trial to the industry, to encourage wider participation and greater access to healthy pre-prepared meals.
All our nutrition work focuses on demonstrating that eating the right food doesn’t just keep you feeling good physically – it helps your mind stay sharp, your mood stay positive and your overall mental health improve. Healthy Heads is here to help you make some simple changes, so you can feel your best at work, both on the road and beyond. By making simple swaps and planning your meals carefully, you can get a serious boost in energy, concentration and overall wellbeing. So, the next time you’re grabbing a snack or thinking about your next meal, consider what might help you feel even better – not just for now, but for the long haul ahead.
Subscribe to the weekly Owner//Driver newsletter here.