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.

NO job is so important that you feel the need to eat at the wheel between 12noon and 1pm

so you have an earlier lunch at 11.30am ? or a later lunch at 1.30pm ?
No-one needs to eat lunch between 12 noon and 1pm - unless this is the set time for lunch BREAKS at work

You can CHOOSE to have a later or larger breakfast if you are soooo hungry that you need to eat at the wheel between 12 noon - 1pm

if eating at 1.30pm puts you off your dinner, eat dinner later !

you do get ( paid or ) unpaid breaks at work don't you ?

I work in care industry, so have been having a little chuckle at the idea of taking a proper lunchbreak.

Hard boiled eggs. Cereal bars. Drinking yoghurt. Wraps. Smoothies. samosas.

It's not a race to the bottom @Branleuse

I can manage a cheeseburger &fries Big mac is a bit more tricky cos of all the lettuce falling out.

I have worked in caring roles, Branleuse and its is absolutely unjustifiable that they are pushed into poor conditions and underpaid for such essential work.
No wonder many caring jobs and agencies struggle to recruit and retain staff, and care staff suffer burnout - so I while I know the reality well, I cant just give a wry smile and accept it.
Employers need to respect their staff and be held to account, legal working conditions need enforced and the whole system should not be built on an expectation of goodwill from the carer where they will work over, work without pay and sacrifice themselves in order to make a poorly designed system work.

I’m in HR and had the sort of job that required driving all over the country.

I did once try eating yogurt while driving but had to get the car valeted afterwards.

I made veggie muffins from cooked veggie sausages, cut up, eggs blended with cottage cheese, lots of pepper or chilli flakes and a good handful of strong cheddar on top. Bake in silicone muffin pans till set and the cheese is golden. Easy to reheat in microwave or eat cold in the car. You could do the same with meat sausages or bacon. Loads of protein, low carb and easy to transport.

As part of the speed awareness course ( I know you aren't asking about speeding but the principle is the same) you are asked what speed you were doing and why. Everyone says " Oh I was late for XYZ. I had to do/ get to blah blah etc. Then they ask you to imagine giving that excuse face to face to the family of the person you have disabled/ killed because you were driving dangerously. Very sobering. If you are eating and drinking whilst driving you are creating a risk to other people. " I don't have a break so I had to eat whilst driving" won't cut it with the family whose life you have destroyed. Stop and eat.

I'm just posting this one last time in case people - like me - flip to the most recent posts in the thread before posting.

I completely take on board the comments about safety. When I posted originally, I just thought I would get replies like 'here's a lovely recipe for courgette log' or similar but the replies have actually made me think again about the whole thing and I'm going to give up eating while driving.

My work is pretty decent overall, but I can only eat between appointments I can, however, plan ahead for days when I need to drive for the whole gap between appointments and have a better breakfast to keep me going until after my afternoon block.

It's a different way of looking at things, so it's been helpful. Thanks to everyone who has replied.

@AngelinaFibres question everything you hear, speed isn't the only factor in most crashes and isn't even the leading cause of death when you consider the cars involved as well. XC90 is a pretty common car (and cheap second hand for what it is). Since records began in 2004 no driver or passenger fatalities have been reported think the x5 and Q5 have very similar stats.

Seriously??? I've driven past the police many many times while eating or drinking a coffee and not once have i been pulled over for it! The vast majority of police officers have far more important things to be dealing with than someone eating a sandwich or having a coffee while driving! Unless you are driving erratically or dangerously you are highly unlikely to be pulled over op! Ignore the pearl clutching hysteria in here!

I used to do it all the time, also used to drive from place to place all day!! So I get that getting a lunch in can be so hard.

i would unwrap whatever I was going to eat and set off with it in my laps
wraps, sandwiches (cut small), crisps, etc. even a burger if I was lucky 🤣 and always a drink with a straw.

i think ppl need to just answer ops question rather than crucifying op for asking a question. She didn’t ask if it was legal.. Y’all know you can warn people kindly right?

Oh and pre cut fruit is a nice one too

This 👏🏽 👏🏽

A race to the bottom?
The reality is some people need to eat on the go.
Not exactly a ridiculous ask to get suggestions for things that are easy to eat one handed for those occasions.

Really @ElizabethVonArnim??????

That's ridiculous. You shouldn't eat ANYTHING when you're driving !

It's (weirdly!) not illegal but is not advised. If you do have an accident you could be in real trouble for dangerous driving.

It's a case of just because you CAN do something, that doesn't necessarily mean you should! You can marry your first cousin legally, but most people wouldn't do that!!!

Its not illegal, so its just an advisory = your opinion.
The whole point of OP asking for tips is so can keep eating on the go as distraction free as possible.

I have an automatic
I listen to Radio 4
I ask Google to change the heating.

This incident came to mind reading this.

https://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/6404796.lecturer-who-reached-for-mint-caused-fatal-pile-up/

Of course I have eaten crisps or sweets when driving but I wouldn’t eat an entire lunch.

I once saw a woman driving very badly out of the supermarket car park eating a cornetto, with several kids in the car! 🤯

I've eaten wraps whilst driving many times

You're not alone OP, but obviously best practice is not to eat whilst driving

She shouldnt be put in the position by her employer where she does not get any breaks because she is expected to drive. Im sure 99% of the time nothing goes wrong when someone eats or drinks, or even uses a phone behind the wheel but when it does go wrong its a situation with a potential for disaster.

What a defense in court - I caused a life changing/fatal accident because I was distracted in charge of a vehicle, trying to eat my lunch on the run because my work don't respect employment law enough to make sure I have protected breaks. Pressure to get to your next work commitment wouldn't be an acceptable excuse for endangering others by speeding or running lights, why would this be acceptable either?

Exactly. Utterly ludicrous to eat a bloody packed lunch whilst driving FFS!

I can't believe anyone is being serious when they are saying it's OK. FFS.

Thick home made blended soup you can drink from the thermos in the car before setting off? Filling, quick to eat and low cal?

Yes but they dont, and a whole host of statutory front line roles that are not specifically 'care' roles either.

Going from visit to visit, getting there late due to traffic issues, finding it takes longer in the visit than planned, client not there so having to wait to see them, etc etc. So then your 'lunch break' that you were planning on pulling up in a side road or layby (nice) to wolf down a sandwich has disappeared and now you're an hour late for your next visit/meeting.

Thats the reality of these types of job