The Perfect Food and Drink for Courier Work

         For those embarked on courier work, the job can lead to some pretty full on days. Often there are long journeys involved with only a short space of time in which to drop-off or pick up deliveries. It can often seem difficult to grab food in the course of the day, but this is incredibly important, especially when your eyelids start to droop in between service stations on the M1. Because of this, drivers involved in the delivery industry often opt for less healthy options, such as a full English breakfast first thing in the morning, or a burger and chips at lunch.

          However, those involved in courier work should know that a healthier diet can work wonders for their alertness and enjoyment for the job; here are some foodstuffs to chew over:

Water

           Cold water consumption is one of the best ways to keep yourself awake in the course of your courier work. Dehydration has a much greater effect on our brain functioning than most of us are aware of. When you're driving you should make sure that you always have a bottle of water or two at your side. You might notice that you have mild headaches throughout the day. If you haven't been drinking much you'll be amazed at how quickly some gulps of water can chase the headache away.

Caffeine

          If you're really lagging then it certainly doesn't hurt to pull over and have a coffee (unless you happen to be sensitive to caffeine of course!), but you should always remember that tea, coffee and cola drinks can give a temporary boost before causing a later drop in energy. This effect can be especially pronounced if you over do it.

Whole Grains

          It might not seem as obvious as glugging down an espresso but by upping your consumption of whole grains you will notice a rise in your energy levels as you go about your courier work. Whole grains take longer to digest within the body and this means their energy is released more slowly rather than giving you a boost that soon fizzles out. Whole grains include brown rice, whole wheat pasta and other foods that contain wheat, oats, maize or barley.

Apples

         The humble apple is actually a great way to satisfy your energy need, allowing you to get some much needed vitamins and nutrition while helping you to stay alert. Apples will give your blood sugar a boost that you might find has a more beneficial effect than a cup of coffee.

            Norman Dulwich is a correspondent for Courier Exchange, the world's largest neutral trading hub for same day courier work in the express freight exchange industry. Over 2,500 transport exchange businesses are networked together through their website, trading jobs and capacity in a safe 'wholesale' environment.