Long-haul truck drivers can legally drive up to 11 hours a day, and up to 70 hours in an 8-day period. That’s a lot of sitting in one place. Add to that the questionable healthiness of food usually available at gas stations and rest areas, and you can imagine the challenges truck drivers face in trying to stay healthy.

That’s why we’re delighted to learn that whole grains are catching on in the trucking crowd. We get Google Alerts that tell us when whole grains, or the Whole Grain Stamp, are mentioned in the media, and lately we’ve been seeing a rash of alerts that link whole grains and trucking – so we decided to see what’s up.

Here’s some of what we found:

• “The overly enriched carbohydrates in regular white bread not only lack the nutritional benefits of whole grain bread, but they send your blood sugar for a rollercoaster ride. Whole grain bread will help keep your blood sugar steady and your body feeling fuller throughout the day.” That’s the word from Truckers News, the News & Lifestyle Magazine of the American Trucker.

The Truckers’ News is very big on whole grains, singing its praises every few months. We first noticed them last year, when they pictured the Whole Grain Stamp on their website and said, “Just look for a stamp like the one pictured on the right. Next time you’re in the grocery store choosing cereals, reach for the whole grain-labeled ones.” This year they also advised eating whole grains to control blood pressure, saying “Try eating whole-grain cereals like Cheerios, shredded wheat and bran, versus cereals like Rice Krispies, Special K and Cornflakes, which are made from refined grains that have fiber- and nutrient-rich elements removed from them.”

• “Look for whole foods (like whole grain), lean cuts of meat and fat free foods,” says the Trucker’s Guide to Fitness, a book written by 25-year trucking veteran Bruce Forester. His list of “health foods” includes oatmeal, brown rice, wild rice, and 100% whole wheat bread.“Food-wise, white bread may be cheaper and more readily available, but most of the vitamins have been removed, leaving empty calories that increase blood sugar levels. Packing whole grain sandwiches can help keep carbohydrates intakes lower than with highly processed breads.” That’s the advice from Safety as a Service, a Colorado company that trains drivers and offers news and advice on their website.

• How about a Trucker’s Grocery List from a site called StopYourJobFromKillingYou.com? Here’s a portion of the list. We’ll forgive them for putting lentils and beans under grains ‘cause we’re always happy to see whole grains keep company with legumes.

• Moore Freight Service, a Tennessee company specializing in transporting glass, includes a Smart Eating tip sheet on their website, including the advice that “Snacks containing whole grains are generally high in fiber and complex carbohydrates. Picking these foods instead of their refined counter part will give you a much-needed boost that will last. Choose foods that say “whole grain” on the package, or look for the whole grain stamp.”

• If you’re ready to hop in a big rig and eat right, make sure to get your “I Love Whole Grain Bread” trucker hat first (shown above). Or, if you’re willing to settle for a baseball cap instead, you can pick from hats with slogans like “Real Men Eat Whole Grain bread” … “Professional Whole Grain Bread Eater” … or even “Give me Whole Grain Bread or Give Me Death!”

Yep. No doubt about it, whole grains are on their way to becoming the norm with truck drivers. Move over, beef jerky and doughnuts — look for oatmeal and whole wheat toast at your nearest truck stop! (Cindy)