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"The 'Fine Art of Dining Alone' "
by a trucker's wife
Websites for Truck Drivers' Wives and Girlfriends
Websites for Truck Drivers
Hot Niche Dating
Includes "A Dating Website for Truckers"
Sooner or later, EVERYONE — business and pleasure travelers, singles, those divorced
or widowed, very-marrieds whose spouses are on the road, harried moms and dads, etc. — faces the challenge of eating
out alone!
THE How-to Booklet of Solo Dining Tips & Strategies:
The Art and Satisfaction of Dining Alone — REVEALED!
Tracy Petering (e-mail: randy_tracy@excite.com) concluded her following piece, with:
“Eating alone is a fact of life in this profession [trucking]. It can be uncomfortable and very unhealthy.
If you use at least one of these tips, you may find that it is easier. Take care of you.”
SoloDining.com hopes you'll consider her terrific tips. They DO make solo dining easier!
“The Fine Art of Dining Alone”
(First published at Layover.com.)
A large percentage of trucker’s wives and an even larger percentage of truck drivers dine alone for at least one
meal.
I had been married for over 25 years and was new to dining alone when my husband decided to make truck driving
his new career.
After many meals alone, I have come up with a few hints to successful solo dining.
— Never eat standing up!!! Although, there is a wives’ tale that says if you stand up to eat the calories will
not go to your hips, it is truly not healthy to eat standing up. A meal should be a relaxing experience.
Standing at the sink or near a counter may make for easier clean-up, but you will rush through the meal and
not relax while doing it.
Always set a place for yourself at the dinner table with the good dishes and silverware and enjoy what you have
prepared.
— Take-out food is okay for an occasional meal, but not for everyday.
If you are truly alone at home all the time, fix the same meal you would for a family. Eat what you want for
one meal and freeze the rest. You can have a quick meal without the cost and added fat of eating out.
— If you are a driver and have to eat out every meal, make it as healthy as possible. Always eat at least one
vegetable with your meal and avoid the fast food restaurants. Make at least one meal a day, a sit-down meal. Have
a salad, the main course and a dessert. Relax for an hour and enjoy your food.
— Never feel like you are out of place. Some restaurants will seat you in the back of the restaurant.
Maybe they feel you don’t want to see the lovers and families eating together. Maybe they feel the families
and lovers eating together don’t want to see you.
No matter where you sit, sit proudly. Don’t slouch over and eat quickly so you can leave without being noticed.
Eat your meal like you normally would and even order dessert. You have just as much right to eat there as anyone.
Don’t let a restaurant make you feel uncomfortable.
— If you feel uncomfortable, read a book. I picked this up from a friend who dined alone a lot. A book will
divert your attention from the fact that you are not having a conversation with your dinner. It is a great way
to catch up on your reading. I have found, however, that the book gets in the way when I am actually eating and
will read it only before the meal comes or while I am waiting for dessert.
— Finally, take a walk after dinner. Yes, you can walk in a truck stop. I have taken walks around the perimeter
of a truck stop to help settle my dinner. You should never eat and then fall into the sleeper. Give your dinner
a chance to settle before you go to bed or continue to drive. You will have less heartburn and other gastric disturbances.
Jacque, webmaster and co-founder of Married
to a Trucker, e-mails:
"Being a trucker's wife is one of the toughest jobs there is. From running the household, taking care
of the kids, animals, bills, etc., there usually isn't any down time for us. When my husband decided to become
a truck driver, I was excited for him though I didn't know what life would bring me. Together with a friend, I
created http://www.marriedtoatrucker.com/, a great
place for support, understanding and friendship for truckers' wives and girlfriends."
Married to a Trucker clearly fills a
need. A work in progress, this online source for support, advice & chitchat provides company links, helpful
sites, and other resources.
Web
Access at Truck Stops
Layover — Industry news and more.
Truckinginfo — Trucking information and
news.
Truck-Loads.org — Online trucking resources directory
for all truckers and owner operators.
Planning a trip? Visit our sister website. Click here: SoloTravelPortal.com
If you have questions or comments about this Web page or site, e-mail: webmaster@SoloDining.com.
© 2008 SoloDining.com
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