Article-restaurants to expand into truck stops

[ChanceMaster]

From QSR, a restaurant website..

Restaurants Hit the Open Road - QSR magazine

a few quotes :

“We have a renewed focus on travel centers,” says Mark Whittle, Huddle House’s Chief Development Officer. “Truckers are a great fit demographically. Some of these gentleman can put away a lot of food.”

To accommodate the large appetite of an average trucker, Whittle says, Huddle House offers a supplemental menu at its truck stop locations with heartier portions called the “Big Rig.”

I am determined to eat healthier this year OTR, trying NOT to fall prey to impulsive eating, over eating, and empty calories, OR Big Rig menus.

Gary

Gary

 

[greg334]

Thanks for that info, I will be avoiding them too.

As one who seems to think that there is a bigger issue here - cashing in on the lie that we need all that food at one sitting - I am inclined to think that the Trucker SIZED portion should be a thing of the past and those who can't get the idea that the BMI numbers that the DOT wants to follow is not as important as that 5000 calorie meal with the 1400 calories of soda that these meals provide.

Maybe some of these 'travel centers' should see some boycotting and some protesting about the food they serve and sell. Sure I can get the banana or an apple for a buck each while at some J's I can get "homemade" chinese food that has 3500 mgs of sodium among the 3000 calories for $6.

 

[scottm4211]

Great post Greg. It's disgusting.

 

[ChanceMaster]

Thanks for that info, I will be avoiding them too.

As one who seems to think that there is a bigger issue here - cashing in on the lie that we need all that food at one sitting - I am inclined to think that the Trucker SIZED portion should be a thing of the past and those who can't get the idea that the BMI numbers that the DOT wants to follow is not as important as that 5000 calorie meal with the 1400 calories of soda that these meals provide.

Maybe some of these 'travel centers' should see some boycotting and some protesting about the food they serve and sell. Sure I can get the banana or an apple for a buck each while at some J's I can get "homemade" chinese food that has 3500 mgs of sodium among the 3000 calories for $6.

Codriver and I are taking a slowcooker out this time, more vegetables and protein, less carbs and junk food.

 

[donaddemt]

We have a slow cooker and a foreman style grill. Cook in the truck regularly!! Although I admit the occasional pizza does slip in. But we share!!

 

[mjmsprt40]

If anything, I need to watch my diet a bit more these days.

Last year at this time, I had a more active job. I was driving a route at a courier company, and it involved a lot of walking, stair climbing, lifting of relatively heavy objects and so on, at upwards of thirty stops on any given day. Now, I'm in a situation where I drive up to the ramp at the pickup, a forklift loads the freight on my van, I drive three hundred miles to the delivery and another forklift unloads the freight. I never pick up anything heavier than a clip-board and a pen, and do so little walking that it doesn't count. A huge mega-calorie meal would be the absolute last thing I need right now. In fact, I'm going to have to force myself to start exercising more or I will weigh approximately the same as a Buick before many more months pass.

 

[moose]

You do know, they came out with 'the day after pill'
where we can eat as mach as we want,
as long as we take the pill.
but then, at the process of getting the DPH approval,
the ATA and 'sleep apnea machine makers'
bought them out, & trashed the thing...

 

[greg334]

It's not just about the quality of the food but the size of the meal.

 

[moose]

. Sure I can get the banana or an apple for a buck each while at some J's I can get "homemade" chinese food that has 3500 mgs of sodium among the 3000 calories for $6.

are you (or anyone) suggesting that food should be costs less if it's 'healthy' ?
is there any way to make this happens ?

 

[Turtle]

Ever sat in a booth at Huddle House? They're not Big Rig Sized at all.

 

[chefdennis]

In almost 5 yrs out here, i can count on 1 hand the number of times i have eatin in a TS restaurant....Making food at home and keeping in in the frig and or cooking in the truck will make a world of difference in healthy eating and as Greg pointed out, cut the portion sizes down...eat off a smaller plate and don't refill it...

 

[greg334]

are you (or anyone) suggesting that food should be costs less if it's 'healthy' ?
is there any way to make this happens ?

Yes bring your own or buy it any where else

I can buy 3 apples for the price of a ta apple

 

[redytrk]

I have been boycotting TS food for about 3 years now. Weight is down and feel much better.

 

[gypsie]

Being a lady driver, I find the restaurant portions too large. They cater to the old days when most drivers were men, and healthier eating was not an issue. Slow cooker on board and fruits and vegies are a better choice for us as well. It is by far less expensive too.

 

[xiggi]

Thanks for that info, I will be avoiding them too.

As one who seems to think that there is a bigger issue here - cashing in on the lie that we need all that food at one sitting - I am inclined to think that the Trucker SIZED portion should be a thing of the past and those who can't get the idea that the BMI numbers that the DOT wants to follow is not as important as that 5000 calorie meal with the 1400 calories of soda that these meals provide.

Maybe some of these 'travel centers' should see some boycotting and some protesting about the food they serve and sell. Sure I can get the banana or an apple for a buck each while at some J's I can get "homemade" chinese food that has 3500 mgs of sodium among the 3000 calories for $6.

It is a persons responsibility to take care of their own weight. A restaurants responsibility is to make a profit and they will offer what people buy and there is nothing wrong with that. Most times when they offer a healthy menu it is some of the least ordered options they have. It is all about personal responsibility and nothing else.

 

[tumbleweeds]

We have two goals this year. Be healthier (diet and exercise) and get more miles. Control the one we can and cus the one we cannot. Fast food is slowly killing us. But look at all the people we are keeping employed. Obama should give us a metal for economy stimulation. He's just too busy on the beach in Hawaii to think about the economy. Where that Great White when you need one.

Our motto this year is "Wag More, Bark Less"
This will be a kinder, gentler year with less weight on us so we can haul more weight in the truck. lol.

 

[Monty]

Or you could go to McDonalds for lunch; a grilled chicken sandwich, side salad and a diet coke. Then celebrate the evening meal with a grilled chicken, cesaer salad, diet coke, (and if you need to celebrate with a desert, get the yogurt thingy with the granola in it.)

And sometime I splurge for breakfast and have a sausage, egg and cheese english muffin, no taters and another diet coke.

There are healthy choices out there, even at McD's

 

[greg334]

It is a persons responsibility to take care of their own weight. A restaurants responsibility is to make a profit and they will offer what people buy and there is nothing wrong with that. Most times when they offer a healthy menu it is some of the least ordered options they have. It is all about personal responsibility and nothing else.

That may be all true but if we are to believe that we need portion sizes the size of the truck, and it is our personal responsibility, the dive truckstop makes the same profit margin if they serve half the meal at half the price as if they served the entire meal at full price.

I got my thanksgiving dinner this year at the T/A, which was HUGE! It took me three days to eat that. Now if that same $12.95 dinner cost me say $4.31 for a third of what they gave, I would be happy and they would make the same profit margin. Most likely sell more dinners at that price than they sell at 12.95.

 

[Turtle]

It might seem that way, but the math on food and prep costs in restaurants are not linear. Smaller portions yield smaller profit margins for a myriad of reasons I will go into if someone needs a sleep inducement. But a $12.95 meal would require it to be priced at around $7.80 to $7.95 for half the portion to keep the same profit margin, generally speaking. A one-third portion would need to be priced at around $5.60 to $5.95.

It can get complicated when you have to factor in all the variables, but it's just one of the reasons why a grilled cheese sandwich costs so much.

 

[ChanceMaster]

@ turtle..agreed, that's why its expensive for one or two to eat a store bought meal (buying all the ingredients) vs eating out. I also hate how all the truckstops make it economical to buy two king size snickers, instead if one. Same with soda, 2 liter cheaper than a single 20 oz. , I'm determined to fight the power this year.

Sent from my PC36100 using EO Forums