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On Duty
George Vrotsos
Eating Healthy On Duty
What’s for lunch? It can be hard to eat healthy while on duty. These recipes are all packed with protein and healthy fats with
It’s easy to stop at the delicious local diner that gives police limited carbohydrates. I am not suggesting that you go on a
discounts or run to McDonald’s for a free meal. If you are just low-carb diet. While on duty, getting the bulk of your calories
starting a healthy diet and you don’t have a game plan to deal from proteins and fats will help keep you full and satisfied, as
with these temptations, it is easy to fall back into old habits. well as promote muscle growth while burning fat. Limiting
This book aims to help you combat those temptations. The carbohydrate intake will keep your blood sugar levels stable
recipes in this book are all designed to be delicious, afford- and prevent the infamous “sugar crashes” that can make you
able, portable and cruiser-friendly. Most importantly they are feel tired after eating a carb heavy meal. If you feel that you
packed with nutrients that promote building muscle and burn- need more carbohydrates while on duty make the “Roasted
ing fat while keeping you full and satisfied. A good officer Sweet Potatoes and Peppers” recipe as a side dish more often
never goes hungry, right? or pack some fresh fruit.
You can’t afford to eat a healthy whole foods diet right? Every- The recipes in this book are all designed to be portable and
one knows how expensive a healthy diet is and we are public cruiser friendly. All they require is some tupperware, a cooler
servants. We aren’t making the big bucks. “Eating healthy is or fridge, and silverware. The dishes can be reheated if you
expensive” is a common myth and I kept that in mind while take your lunch break at the station, or you can utilize a micro-
designing these recipes. Most recipes in this book should cost wave at a local gas station if you eat on the road. All of the
$15 or less and make at least two or three meals worth of dishes can also be enjoyed cold if you don’t have access to a
food. If you are really concerned about money, eat the microwave and must eat lunch from the driver’s seat.
roasted chicken legs often; they are very inexpensive.
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Tips for Success Grass fed Beef: In the beef recipes I recommend going with
grass fed beef because it comes from healthy cows that get ex-
Cook in bulk on off days: If you know you will be too tired
ercise and eat a natural diet. These cows do not need growth
to cook on work days spend a few hours on your off days and
hormones or antibiotics because they are healthy. Beef from
cook multiple meals at once.
grass-fed cows is also loaded with healthy Omega 3 fatty acids
that your body needs. “Regular” beef comes from cows that
can be kept in feedlots. These cows get little to no exercise,
Eat your favorite healthy foods: Make eating healthy easier eat an unhealthy diet, and are often pumped full of growth hor-
by enjoying your favorite dishes more often. If you hate the mones and antibiotics. If you MUST eat “regular” beef, avoid
salad dishes but enjoy the Stir Fried Steak and Zucchini then the fat as that is where the antibiotics and growth hormones
by all means skip the salads and eat more steak. Just because get stored. With regular beef get the leanest cuts of steak and
you are eating healthy doesn’t mean you should deprive your- get ground beef that is at least 90% lean. If your local grocery
self. Do everything you can to make eating an enjoyable expe- store doesn’t carry grass fed beef, you can order it online at
rience by focusing on what you like. U.S. Wellness Meats or Massa Meats. Even better, find a local
farmer near you.
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out The Foodee Project for tons of free delicious healthy
meals. You can search by ingredient, and if you sign up for
the site (it’s free, just requires an email address) you can mark
your favorites and make grocery lists.
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Eating Healthy On Duty Restaurant Guide
Pre-cooking and packing a lunch is all well and good, but mole add-on for some healthy fats. If your main health goal is
what if it’s 0230, you’re hungry and you didn’t have time to fat-loss, I recommend holding off on the cheese and sour
pack a lunch? If you are on foot patrol then packing a lunch cream as they tend to be very large servings. This meal goes
definitely isn’t an option. The only options in town might be a great with black ice tea.
24-hour McDonald’s or rummaging to find something at the
gas station. How are you supposed to eat healthy with those
options? When you’re on the road and looking for a healthy Breakfast Diners: Breakfast diners usually have a large se-
meal, finding the best choice isn’t always obvious. This guide lection of omelettes or egg-scrambles. These are great go-to-
is designed to help you navigate the menus of your local din- meals and hard for any restaurant to screw-up. Choose a mix-
ers, fast food joints, and gas stations, so that you can make the ture of eggs, meat and veggies. Have the server hold the toast.
best of a bad situation and eat for optimal performance and I would avoid the hash browns as well, and ask to substitute a
results. side of fruit instead. And by all means, double down with a
large side of bacon. Go with black coffee, black tea or water to
drink. Avoid the high-sugar O.J.
Good Options
Local Sit Down Restaurants: These can be tricky as their
Chipotle: If you have a chipotle in town that is open during menus vary. However almost all sit-down type restaurants
your shift you are in luck. It’s easy to get a healthy, filling, have healthy options.
and delicious meal there and most locations give discounts to
Grilled Meat and Veggies: Steak, pork chops and grilled
law enforcement. Simply get a “Burrito Bowl”. After you pick
chicken can usually be found on the menu. Choose the
the meat of your choice, skip on the beans and hold the rice;
meat of your choice and have the server double whatever
instead ask for the fajita veggies. Salsa-wise, skip the corn-
veggies are on the side and hold the french fries.
based salsa, but mix any combination of the others. Add
some lettuce to get some fresh greens and throw in the guaca-
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Salads: When going with a salad, the darker the greens Asian Restaurant: Likewise asian restaurants are another
the better. Spinach provides more nutrients than lettuce, easy choice for sticking with a healthy diet. Get a stir fried ver-
so go with that option when available. Cucumbers, toma- sion of meat and veggies. Ask them to hold the rice and dou-
toes, broccoli, eggs, goat or feta cheeses, mushrooms, and ble the veggies. The one thing you want to avoid is breaded
carrots are all great ingredients to look for when picking meats (e.g., General Tso’s or Sweet and Sour chicken) and
the salad. Topping it with a steak or grilled chicken and overly sugary sauces. You also want to check and make sure
some bacon rounds it out nicely. If the salad contains any the restaurant doesn’t use MSGs. Personally I like Thai restau-
croutons or tortilla chips ask the server to hold them. You rants best. It’s easy to get a healthy delicious meal with some
have to be careful with salad dressings though. These can exotic options like coconut, avocado or duck.
easily add an extra 300+ calories to a salad. A side of olive
oil and vinegar are the best options. Most “balsamic vinai-
grette” and “Italian” dressings are made with a canola oil Panera Bread: A store known for its bakery and bread might
base and it is best to avoid that if possible. However those
not be the first thing you think of when you want a healthy
are both better options than french, ranch or any of the
meal however Panera actually has a very healthy hidden
thicker creamy dressings. One unconventional option for
menu. Any of the “power bowls” are an excellent choice and
“dressing” that I like, is to hold all salad dressing and order 1
very Paleo friendly.
or 2 fried eggs on top of the salad. The runny egg yolks
works very well as a dressing.
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dressing. Salsa is a good option, if the choice of salad dress-
ings are lacking.
Subway: Likewise, subway’s are everywhere. I am not a
Denny’s: Most Denny’s locations are open 24 hours and they big fan of Subway’s meat selection as it is all heavily proc-
do have a lot of healthy options at reasonable prices. Any of essed. If it’s the only choice in town go with a chopped
the omelettes on the menu are a good choice, just hold the salad. Lettuce, broccoli, cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers,
toast and hash browns. Get a side of bacon and/or fruit in- olives and onions are a good base and then add the meat
stead. Denny’s also has a few grilled meat items, like steak or of your choice. Dressing wise there aren’t many healthy
chicken, that you can get with broccoli. Denny’s also offers options. I don’t think subway has olive oil. Some sub-
the “Prime Rib Cobb Salad” and “Avocado Chicken Ceasar ways carry salsa, if so use that in place of a salad dress-
Salad” which are good options. Just hold the croutons and ing.
side of bread.
Wendy’s: Wendy’s has the nice option of subbing in a
side salad for fries. It’s easy to get a double cheeseburger
without the bun and put it on top of a side salad. The
Last Resorts “Chicken Cobb BLT Salad” is a good option. Wendy’s of-
Fast Food: The options above are great, but if you work 2nd or ten has special seasonal salads as well. Just make sure to
3rd shift they may not be open during your shift. Sometimes fast hold the croutons or any sugary dressings that may come
food joints are the only option. You want to avoid eating at with the salads.
these places often. You should only go to fast food restaurants Burger King: Like Wendy’s and McDonald’s, B.K. has
once a week at most. Here is how to make the best of a bad
the option of getting a burger, ditching the bun, and put-
situation.
ting the meat on a side salad. Like their competitors,
McDonald’s: Let’s face it, McyD’s are everywhere. B.K. also offers a few salad options like the “Chicken
Chances are your town has one and many of them let law Ceasar Garden Fresh Salad.” You probably know the
enforcement eat for free so they are tempting. The best drill by now, hold the croutons and sugary dressings.
options are “McDoubles”. Get two of those without the Arby’s: Arby’s has a “Roast Turkey Farmhouse Salad”
bun, hold the ketchup, and add a side salad. You can that fits our nutritional goals. Like Wendy’s, Arby’s of-
throw the patties on top of the salad or use lettuce leaves fers an array of seasonal rotating salad options. Arby’s
in place of buns.
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also runs yearly specials of their roast beef sandwiches at clude sugar. “Jack Links” and “Pemmican” are two
4 for $5. Get a few regular roast beef sandwiches, ditch national brands that most gas stations carry. Also,
the buns, and put the beef on top of a side salad. Just “slim jims” and similar stick-meats are not beef
avoid any of the sandwiches with the gooey processed jerky. These should be avoided as they are highly
cheese sauce. processed.
Canned Fish: If your gas station offers Tuna or Sar- Hard Boiled Eggs: Some gas stations sell refriger-
dines these are great go to mini-meals packed with ated pre-peeled boiled eggs. These are an excellent
protein and some healthy fat. choice.
Beef Jerky: Real beef jerky is an excellent healthy Trail Mix: These can be good or bad depending on
choice. If your gas station carries a locally made the mix. Like nuts, they are calorically dense and
“real” beef jerky you are in luck. Unfortunately most you do not want to eat them often. If you are going
gas stations sell highly processed packaged Beef with a trail mix make sure it is mainly nuts and
Jerky that is expensive. It is probably a better seeds and doesn’t contain any candy. Likewise be
choice than most other gas station options, as it is careful of dried fruit as these are nutritionally simi-
packed with protein. Go for the natural flavored va- lar to candy. If the mix has one type of fruit like rai-
riety. The teriyaki and other flavor versions can in- sins or banana chips, that is ok, but avoid any of the
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“fruit and nut” mixes that have multiple types of
fruit.
Do Not Eat:
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Recipes
Ingredients
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Directions
Portability
The easiest way to eat this dish on duty is by stripping the skin and meat off the bone with a fork and packing it in a tupperware con-
tainer. It pairs well with the bacon-roasted Brussel Sprouts or the Sweet Potatoes and Peppers and can be packaged in the same con-
tainer.
Notes
I eat this meal often. The butter makes the skin extra crispy and tasty when it is fresh out of the oven. Bone-in chicken legs and thighs
are extremely inexpensive. You can usually get enough meat for 2 or 3 meals for around $3. If you really want to save money, look for
whole chicken legs, with the thigh and drumstick still attached. These are usually $0.30 per pound cheaper at my local grocery store. If
you strip the meat off of the bones after cooking, save the bones to add into the pot when you make bone-broth.
Rosemary and Thyme go very well with the butter. Smoked Paprika and a Blackened/Cajun seasoning mix add a nice kick.
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Full Meal
Ingredients
1 lb. Zucchini
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Directions
• Cut steak into bite sized pieces and season with salt and pepper.
Portability
This meal is perfect for the road. Pack it up in a tupperware container and all you need is a fork. It’s satisfying either hot or cold.
Notes
This meal is great if you are looking for a low carb option. The protein from the steak, healthy fat from the coconut oil, and fiber from
the vegetables will leave you feeling full. The lack of carbohydrates will keep your energy level stable throughout your shift.
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Side Dish/Ingredient
Ingredients
2 Tomatoes, Chopped
1 Lime
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Directions
Notes
This salsa can be used as a side with any dish that you want to add a little kick to, and it is an ingredient in the next two recipes.
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Main Dish/Snack
Ingredients
1 Onion
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Directions
• Wash the chicken and remove the organs from the body cavity.
• Remove chicken from crockpot, shred meat with 2 forks and set aside, discard skin, place carcass and bones back in crockpot.
• Cook bones in crockpot with water for an additional 12 hours to make bone broth.
Notes
Whole chickens are relatively cheap. Cooking one in this manner allows you to have a few pounds of shredded chicken on hand. The
meat can be used for topping a salad, in the scramble recipe, or simply pack a ziplock bag of shredded chicken for an easy protein snack
at work.
Bone-Broth is fantastic for boosting your immune system. I recommend drinking one cup per day warmed up like tea. You can also add
the shredded chicken back into the bone broth with chopped onion, celery, and carrots and cook on low for 2 hours for a delicious home-
made chicken soup.
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Full Meal
Ingredients
6 Eggs, Scrambled
2 Tablespoons Butter
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Directions
Portability
This dish can easily be eaten from a tupperware container with a fork. The dish is good hot or cold.
Notes
You can use shredded chicken from the whole chicken or debone some of the chicken legs. This dish is filling and inexpensive.
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Full Meal
Ingredients
1 Tablespoon Cumin
1 Teaspoon Salt
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Directions
• Season ground beef with salt, pepper, and cumin. Cook in skillet, stirring frequently for 5 to 7 minutes.
• Add chopped onion, bell peppers, and jalapeño pepper to skillet. Cook for additional 4 to 6 minutes.
Portability
Pack the cooked beef and veggies in one container, and the spinach in a larger container by itself to keep it from getting soggy or wilted.
At lunch simply dump the beef and veggies into the spinach container and your salad is ready to go. You can use a balsamic vinegar and
olive oil dressing if you like, but the flavor of the cook beef allows this salad to be eaten without a dressing as well.
For even more flavor, pack a third container with some of the cucumber salsa, and add that on top of the salad.
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Main Dish
Carnitas
Tender and Crispy Braised Mexican Pork
Ingredients
1 Cinnamon Stick
2 Tablespoons Cumin
1 Teaspoon Salt
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Directions
• Cut 1 to 2 inch thick slices of pork off the pork shoulder to remove it from the bone. Get as much pork off the bone as possible.
• Layer pork in oven-safe skillet. Add water to skillet. Don’t completely cover the pork in water, add just enough so the pork is half cov-
ered.
• Add sliced onion and minced garlic on top of pork. Add cinnamon stick to skillet.
• Shred pork with two forks. Place on baking sheet under broiler for 10 to 15 minutes for extra crispiness.
Notes
The water will boil off and pull the fat out of the pork so that it renders in its own fat. This leaves the pork succulent and crispy. The
dish is great on top of a salad, or paired with the Brussel sprouts or roasted sweet potatoes.
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Side Dish
Ingredients
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Directions
• Slice bacon into bite-sized pieces. Cook in skillet over medium heat for 6 to 8 minutes.
• Chop onion, add to skillet when bacon is about 3/4 of the way cooked.
• Add quartered Brussel Sprouts to skillet when bacon is almost fully cooked. Cook for an additional 5 to 7 minutes, stirring frequently.
Notes
If you hate Brussel sprouts, or veggies in general, this recipe might change your mind. It goes well with the chicken legs or carnitas. Or
you can make a double batch and eat this on its own.
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Side Dish
Ingredients
2 Bell Peppers
1 Large Onion
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Directions
• Peel and chop potatoes, onion, and bell peppers into bite sized pieces.
• Drizzle olive oil on vegetables. Shake baking sheet a few times to distribute olive oil evenly.
Notes
This dish is a great way to get some healthy carbs into your diet. It pairs well with the roasted chicken legs or carnitas. It’s also great on
it’s own with a couple fried eggs on top.
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Thank you for your time and attention
Conclusion
Eating a healthy diet on a consistent basis is the single most im-
portant thing you can do to improve your health and wellness.
Hopefully this guide gives you some options to start eating
healthier on-duty. If you can eat healthy on duty, then eating
healthy off-duty becomes simple.
You can pick up a copy of Lean & Fierce here with a 25% Dis-
count included as a thank you for reading Eating Healthy on
Duty.
If you have any questions about Lean & Fierce, ideas for topics
that you’d like to see covered on Premeditated Fitness, or any fit-
ness or diet struggles that you want help with, email me anytime.
george@premeditatedfitness.com
Click Here to buy Lean & Fierce for 25% Off
Stay Safe and Stay Fit,
George Vrotsos
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