Perception and role of fruit in the workday diets of Scottish lorry drivers

Forty-six lorry drivers working for two haulage firms in central Scotland took part in a study to determine their perception and the role of fruit in their diets on working days. A focus group session provided initial insights, with repertory grid being used to provide further understanding. Eating while at work was characterized by a pattern of extensive and irregular snacking. The snack foods tended to be branded items obtained from garage kiosks, forecourts, motorway service areas and truck stops. Fruit as a snack, although perceived as healthy, did not feature highly because it was considered both inconvenient and expensive. The study identifies a major role to be played by the roadside catering and retailing industries in supplying healthy snacks to their customers.