$afety $aves – by Justin Doble

New year, new me.  At least that is what I am trying to tell myself.  I turned 40 in January.  With this new decade under my belt, my wife seems to have taken a new interest in my diet.  This got me thinking about the diet of the average logger in Montana.  I know operating heavy equipment or driving truck doesn’t give much time to eat lunch or snack.  Working in the timber industry as a whole doesn’t give you much time to prep meals for tomorrow’s lunch.  Early rising, long commutes, and even longer days make finding time to do just the simplest things difficult.  And it doesn’t help that every night or early morning usually requires a stop and a fuel station.  Most of which are open 24/7.   Those jalapeño corn dogs in the display case are sometimes just too tempting.  But there are some things that a busy guy or gal can do to make healthy eating choices even with such a demanding schedule. 

Plan Ahead

Planning ahead is key to a healthy diet while driving or operating equipment.  When grocery shopping for the week ahead, take a little time to plan out the week’s lunches.  Some good on-the-go snacks to think about could be fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts, seeds, protein bars, Greek yogurt, and hard-boiled eggs.  For meals, cook larger batches of foods like chicken, steak, rice, or veggies.  Smoked salmon and jerky can be easily packed in a lunch and both are high in protein with salmon loaded with other nutrients and omega-3 fatty acids.

I understand that most loggers don’t have time for a sit-down lunch, you need something you can eat on the fly.  Time is money after all.  Taking 10 minutes in the morning to cut last nights left over steak or chicken into strips, can make for a lean protein lunch that you can eat on the go, keeping the logs moving and your energy up.

Planning ahead takes a little bit of time and effort upfront, but if pays off by setting you up to eat healthy while in a machine all day or on the road trucking logs.   A little preparation can go a long way.

Stay Hydrated

Getting enough water crucial for both operators and drivers to stay alert on long days in the seat.  Dehydration can cause fatigue, headaches, and muscle cramps which can be dangerous especially for those guys behind the wheel.  Staying hydrated also keeps your energy up, and helps you stay alert.

Drink plenty of water and try to limit the number of sugary drinks like sodas, juices, or especially energy drinks.  If water gets a bit boring, look for some flavor packets while grocery shopping.  There are several companies out there that make great tasting flavor packets with very limited sugar added.  Aim for at least 64 ounces of water per day.  That’s right at about a half-gallon.  Or the size of your average water jug.  Staying hydrated makes a big difference in how you feel and function during those long days of bunching trees or trucking logs.

Boots on the Ground

If you are the callused hands, boots on the ground type, you may need to take your diet and eating to the next level.  Again, protein is very important.  Protein is primarily used for rebuilding and repairing damaged cells and tissue in the body.  You loggers that take a beating on the hill everyday put your bodies under a lot of stress, and you need protein to help repair it.

If working on the hill or running a saw, you’ll also need a lot of complex carbohydrates.  The nice thing about carbs is your body digest them slowly.  So, you’ll get a slow and steady release of energy instead of the rush and crash of a meal packed with sugar.  Also with carbs, you’re getting a lot more nutrients. 

And probably the most important thing you can do is make sure you’re taking in enough calories, as this is going to be your fuel for the day.  This means eating a big breakfast that’s high calories (mostly protein and complex carbs).  This also means don’t skip a meal.  If you have a few minutes between turns or when fueling the saw, grab a snack.  Drink plenty of water.  Keeping your body fueled and hydrated is key to staying healthy and staying productive.

Eating healthy in the woods can be a challenge but, a few good choices here or there and a little foresight can have you feeling healthier and more energetic and in your work day.  It might not always be easy or convenient but your reward just might be a longer life.  A happier life.  And staying happy at home and productive on the job is something I think we can all strive for.  $afety $aves