Integrators: What Do You Eat On Work Sites?

As a young person, you don't care about nutrition or health, so I'd never do this now. 

But here is a 7-11 lunch you get at the morning gas stop: 

1. Gas station burrito - $3.25 each

2. Snack crackers - $1 per pkg

3. Hot Peanuts - $0.49 each

If your 'perdiem' is $10, eating for about $5 is a huge win.

Almost every day was 2-3 slices of pizza and a Coke. Not as bad as it could've been, healthwise. I was also a vegetarian for several years of my field career, so it was harder to eat really junky junk food, so pizza was my go-to. Also two slices and a soda were usually 3-4 bucks. 

My breakfast when I was in the field was a gas station cappuccino and a fat free Fig Newton for years on end.

Like a bad diner on wheels, aka the Roach Coach, is often an option for the truly ravenous contractor.

Installing I had 2 all beef patties with special sauce, fries and a shake or I’d have it my way with a double whopper, fries and a shake.

Sometimes I would splurge and get a pastrami burrito.  Don’t knock it til you’ve tried it.

Pro tip: A roomy box camera enclosure with a decent wattage camera can be used as a low-grade toaster oven to keep those burrito bombs hot all day; or even as a rudimentary sous vide device.

Did a project in Carlisle, PA once and for two weeks this was breakfast, lunch, and sometimes dinner since this Sheetz was just down the street from the jobsite and made it easy to jump in and out.  If there's a Sheetz or Wawa near a jobsite, I'm good to go .... I had to laugh when I did expenses at the end of the month and realized just how many Sheetz receipts I had.    

Fancy food is a human construct designed to help those that eat it validate their own internal belief that they are superior to others.

I used to keep a sandwich and some snacks in my truck. Often, though, a nearby fast food joint seemed more appetizing, and I would eat there instead. I enjoyed taking a break from the site and going somewhere quiet and climate controlled, even if it was just for a few minutes.

When I think of all the money I spent on food when I was young and single... 

Fast food is a required tool during a busy day. I try my best to eat as well as I possibly can while working, but sometimes I just don’t have enough time to skip the drive thru. Yesterday was an example. 

I used to grab a half gallon of milk in the morning at the gas station. Then it was Casey's pizza or the biggest double patty burger in the area for lunch, or some cheap Chinese buffet if I was lucky. Can't eat like that anymore.

I quit all the junk food about 2 years ago. I do some kind of exercise at least 5 out of 7 days now. I find time in my 24 hours to either go for a brisk walk, climb stairs, bike ride, even in winter! I am down 40 pounds from this time last year. I drink coffee black instead coffee with sugar and plenty of water. I buy a 40 pack from coscto and carry it will me in my van, no more pepsi.  I eat breakfast now, never did before. When I am out of town, I book a hotel with a decent fitness center and I will do that before work. As for food, mostly tuna or salmon sandwiches, I keep almonds, kashi bars (costco bulk), peanuts etc always handy in my van, helps to keep me away from the fast food. Prior to this, it was a couple of double cheeseburgers and a large coke. That will and did catch up to me, i had to change, was getting to the point where I had a hard time crouching behind the rack. 

Cheers!

Im just impressed as to how many replies are on this thread......up in the great white north (Wisconsin), we don't have sheetz, so I have no idea even what that is...perhaps its what you get after you go there?????  Typically our guys pack a lunch or head to McDowells for a big mick.  Or as some of the guys call it, an ass-blow sandwich. 

Craziest thing Ive had on a jobsite was a fish fry done on a propane burner, with non-union and union contractors eating at the same table. 

Smart contractors know that in a pinch you can make a decent trail mix out of some beanies, banana plugs and assorted nuts...

Professional golfers claim you can't beat either tuna or peanut butter sandwiches as a portable source for quick energy. Also, easy clean up.

"Easy cleanup? Peanut butter? Tuna? I can’t think of much worse!" 

Masticate carefully and thoroughly, wipe your mouth often...shouldn't be too messy!

Always Healthy , unless special with Guest 

Coffee, Water , healthy drinks 

Healthy Grain Bars, Protein Bars, Fruit Snacks , Real Fruit 

never take lunch unless others insist , then out to great lunch 

No Junk Food NMW 

Two all beef patties special sauce lettuce cheese. Not really.

My wife says the fast food is gonna kill me, so it's peanut butter and jelly.

It can sit in my van all day and not spoil.

Of course I sneak down to the Chinese buffet when I'm working close to one.

If you are in Philadelphia or PG County Maryland: Sardi's

wood-fired Peruvian rotisserie chicken

It's fast and affordable.

Actually my favorite food ever....

One day on lunch break, I was hungry, but even more tired, so I just caught a few winks instead.  I dreamed I was devouring foot after foot of red and black rope licorice.

When I woke up, my spool of siamese cable was gone ;)

I usually search out a Subway to get a spicy italian with all the veggies.  What ever happened to the Seafood Sensation (seafood and crab-er fake polluck).  Make iced coffee in my iced tea maker in morning (dunkin donuts coffee) and put in the big DD cup (costs 25 cents versus 3.50).

Every now and then, I take my techs out to lunch (chinese buffet).  Be careful of this because their work slows to a crawl afterward.

For 3.5 years of field work and 11 years in the office, I have made lunch at home almost every day. I very, very occasionally go out with colleagues for lunch, but I have never been able to see spending money on restaurants every day. I use to have more variety, and still bring leftovers sometimes, but found I was usually disappointed when I realized I hadn't brought my standard sandwich. I also keep TastyBites Indian food in my office in case I don't have time to make lunch.

lol....I'm just back from a few months of IPVM "break" (couldn't afford it for a while there but I'mmmm baaaack) and one of the first things I read is this chain.  I gotta tell you, I freaked out at first thinking John had changed the whole format and left the security industry in favor of the fast food industry!  A few other articles and discussions set my mind at ease :)  

May it never be , like all good things , they are only as good as the original recipe

Stability in the industry 

Thats why I look forward to reading your post. 

give s me a different perspective on the industry 

Brutal sometimes but necessary to keep things in check so the outlandish claims dont get too out of control and the industry keeps a level head