Packed lunches I can eat one-handed while driving

[ElizabethVonArnim]

One of the things that really frustrates me about my job is that I have to move between sometimes quite distant locations between 12 and 😊1pm, so I am almost always in the car or a taxi on the move over lunchtime. I'm aware that I eat too many sandwiches and am getting portly because of it, but I can't think of anything that I can hold and eat while driving without looking at it that isn't either contained in bread or a pastry item. Can anyone think of anything? I'm always starving, too, so won't be eating a package of spinach like a bag of crisps unless it's an accompaniment to something more substantial.

I felt the need to look this up given that almost all cars have drinks holders next to the driver’s seat these days and the RAC website confirms that it is not specifically illegal to drink while you drive but you need to ensure you are not distracted.

The question should be “can I do an effective and safe emergency stop with a drink or some food in one of my hands?” It’s not an arbitrary “is this illegal?” But “is this safe?”. I don’t want to find out how easy or difficult it is to keep the car in a straight line with only one available hand while doing an emergency stop at speed. Do you?

You're looking at finger foods so things like protein bites (chicken is good), chopped veg, breakfast muffins, lettuce wraps etc. Also can the drama queens chill it's not illegal to eat and drive. Most cars have lane assist now and some form of autopilot anyway

Fuck me. No wonder I’ve been driven into three times.

@LittleYellowCloth sounds like you hesitate if you have been hit 3 times. FYI my car will do an emergency stop for you, the sensor are actually better than a driver have a look at the Tesla truck video.

A friend of mine thought it was ok to grab a snack from her bag on the passenger seat while waiting at traffic lights. Unfortunately the car beside her was an unmarked police car. I can't remember if she got a fine or points on her licence but either way it was a stupid thing to do, which she now realises.

OP you need to talk to your employer. No way should you not get enough time to eat a sandwich.

Erm
just eat before you are on the road?
It’s insane to chose to eat between 12-1 knowing you will be hungry. And dangerous for others on the road.
You have choices.
there’s no law insisting you eat between 12 and 1
there are however fixed penalty notices for eating while driving

Erm no, I’m an advanced driver and have done hundreds of thousands of miles in my career - 20 years of site visits. All three were prosecuted, one received a custodial sentence. Not every car on the road is as clever as yours and apparently requires so little driver input.

A peanut butter/smoked salmon roll takes an absolute maximum of five minutes to eat and wash down with a swig of water. Eat it and then get in the car. If you don't have five minutes wriggle room in your schedule then surely you'd be perpetually late when the traffic is a bit sticky

Please tell me that those are two distinctly separate suggestions and you're not suggesting them as a combination? 🤢

Yes! definitely alternatives rather than a novel fusion combo.

OP shouldn't be eating ANYTHING whilst driving. It's a pretty stupid thing to do. You have to be in full control of the vehicle at all times. No wonder there are so many accidents and so much bad driving if people think it's acceptable!

Oh thank goodness

You can buy chicken pieces in bags that are high in protein. Someone else suggested protein shakes, meal replacement types which would be easy to consume. However, I think a change of mindset might be best - you don't have to eat between 12 - 1pm. If you have a decent breakfast or brunch or a late lunch surely that would be much better? I think you should try to organise your day better so you get a reasonable break that enables you to eat a meal in comfort. And not risk having an accident.

It's good to have your unthinking ideas challenged - I've said upthread a few times that im going to change this behaviour. Unfortunately, the way my job goes on some days means I can't just switch things around, but I can have a big enough breakfast to miss lunch.

It's interesting when you start a thread, realise (and say) you're in the wrong and are convinced by replies quite soon and then have a lot more responses to the OP. I haven't has one of these threads before, although I've seen them.

Perhaps it's better to be "a drama queen" than cause an accident and/or injure others.

Quite. Who was that footballer - Marlon? He was eating an ice cream at the wheel. He had a top of the range car, very sophisticated. He lost control for a second or so, caused a three car pile up and got 18 months in prison.

@ElizabethVonArnim why are you not having a proper lunch break??

@PrincessHoneysuckle yes it is

@ElizabethVonArnim - it's tough when people tell you that you're in the wrong, but I think you're right to reflect and reconsider. Not everyone would!
Have you thought about a substantial breakfast, maybe a cheese omelette or poached eggs on avocado toast?

I think you've conceded very gracefully, @ElizabethVonArnim. As you've noticed, people don't even read all of the OP's posts, let alone the whole thread 😆

People have made a really valid point (a lot of times!).

I'd maybe do some chopped up veg/salad that you can pick as you go. So you can pick like a bag of sweets. Small cubes of cheese or chicken to have with it
Contrary to PP it's not illegal to eat or drink while driving.

What about one armed people? Hmmmmm?😁

Don't they have adapted cars?