GenInv – Health and Wellness

Law enforcement is a line of work that can be different every time you come to work, and departments run the gamut of faced paced never a chance to take a breath to departments where officers take maybe only one or two reports a day.  But no matter the pace or workload of your department, it is always easy to eat what is quick and convenient over what is really nutritious.  So what are the healthy fast food choices for police officers when they’re on the job?  It may not be as diffi

cult as you might initially think to get food that tastes good and is also fast and convenient.

Subway is one of the best places for police officers to find food that is both fast and healthy.  I know you’ve seen the ads about Subway being low in fat compared to other fast food chains, and believe me it’s true.  They’ve got a whole list of sandwiches that are below 6 grams of fat, and all Subway subs come pilled high with veggies.  You have to be careful though, because even at Subway you

can easily get into food choices that are just as high in fat and calories as your favorite hamburger.  Try to cut out the cheese on your sandwiches and also go for either light mayo or just mustard for sauce.  Also the choice of bread matters, so go for the whole-wheat stuff.  Many people make the mistake of thinking the wraps are healthy, but they actually pack a pretty high fat percentage, so wrap your sandwich with caution.

Boston Market is another alternative to typical fast food for p

olice officers on the go.  I know they’re not in every State yet, but Boston Market is quickly spreading.  They have a whole menu of fewer than 550-calorie meals that will definitely quiet the stomach rumblings.  With items like rotisserie chicken and roasted sirloin and sides like garlic potatoes or mashed potatoes (sorry no gravy), Boston Market offers plenty of options to keep you interested and away from the cheeseburgers and fries.

Believe it or not, Starbucks is another place I’ve found some pretty low calorie, nutritious food choices.  Starbucks has a variety of turkey sandwiches that are all low in calories and fat, and they have plenty of fresh mixed veggie and fruit packages.  If you’re looking for sweets, they also have a few low fat coffee cake options, but eat these also in moderation because they still have pretty high amount of sugar.  Starbucks food is very easy when for the officer who has to grab a bite and run, but my only complaint is that it can be a bit pricey for what you buy.

This doesn’t mean you have to always stay away from burgers joints.  You can still eat at typical fast food places like Burger King and McDonald’s and eat healthier.  You just have to be aware of how you’re eating.  Go for the single patty burgers rather than those double-stacked ones, and try to cut out the mayo and cheese.  You can also eat the grilled chicken sandwiches instead of the crispy aka fried.  And if you’re at the local taco stand, cut back on the sour cream, guacamole, and cheese.

We all want to make it home at the end of the day.  After all, in law enforcement this is one of our highest priorities.  Eating healthy makes it possible to have more days to start out, so keep in mind those healthy fast food choices when you’re on the road.