How to Eat Well on the Road in Ireland When the Garage Is Your Only Option

If you drive for a living, you know the problem. You are on a long route, you are hungry, and the only food for miles is a petrol station. You end up eating whatever is there, and it is usually the same thing.

It does not have to be like this. A little planning goes a long way.

1. Pack the night before. Decide what you are bringing while you are making dinner. If you cook extra, your lunch is already sorted.

2. Bring hot food, not just sandwiches. A cold sandwich is fine once in a while, but on a cold day a hot meal makes a real difference. Defrost your meal overnight and use a heated lunch box to warm it up at your break.

3. Keep it hot for longer. A thermal carry bag helps keep your food and your lunch box warmer between the morning and your break.

4. Pack a few easy extras. Fruit, nuts, a boiled egg or a small tub of yoghurt are far better than a bar from the till when the afternoon dip hits.

5. Treat the garage as a backup. If you do end up buying food, look for the better option: a wrap, a soup, a boiled egg, a banana. Skip the second sausage roll.

None of these changes is big on its own. Together they cut your spending, your reliance on the fryer and the time you waste queuing for lunch.