Tim Spector, the doctor and nutrition expert behind the Zoe app, has insightful thoughts on how different bodies process food in unique ways. While he shares some clever ideas, he also makes observations that can seem quite obvious. For instance, during the Cheltenham Literature Festival, he noted how drivers tend to consume a lot of junk food on long trips, stating that there’s no need to stop for snacks at service stations every few hours.
It’s possible that he found himself tempted on his journey there, similar to my own experience traveling from west London. The opportunities to indulge are plentiful—Beaconsfield services for breakfast, Oxford services for elevenses, and various filling stations along the way to Cheltenham all offer a smorgasbord of snacks: crisps, nuts, pastries, chocolates, and sweets.
However, I doubt Dr. Spector indulged in such fare. I recall once asking him about his trigger food on the radio—what he can’t resist once he starts eating it. Initially caught off guard, he eventually admitted to struggling with cashew nuts. Cashew nuts? While I respect his honesty, that wasn’t the answer I was expecting. If cashews are your biggest temptation, confession seems unnecessary.
The truth is, many of us know we don’t actually need to snack every couple of hours on the road. The issue lies not in necessity but in our inability to resist the urge to snack, driven by unknown forces.
Typically, it’s junk we crave. Sure, there might be options like celery sticks and carrots available at service stations, but who genuinely wants to munch on raw vegetables during a long drive? There’s a bizarre notion that being in a car somehow grants us permission to indulge, as if we’re celebrating a holiday or engaging in a physically demanding activity.
This behavior likely stems from childhood. I can’t recall my mother offering an endless supply of snacks during our journeys; in fact, she probably avoided it due to my severe carsickness, which often prevented more food from being introduced to my stomach.
At service stations, vendors enthusiastically sell all kinds of sugary and salty snacks, but there’s an underlying awareness of the absurdity of this trend. Amidst the candy and chips, you’ll often find diet books for sale—an odd juxtaposition.
Ultimately, if Dr. Spector is looking to understand the driving forces behind our snacking habits on the road, I am more than willing to participate in his research. I’m ready to hit the road equipped for testing—just let me know when.
Adrian Chiles is a broadcaster, writer, and Guardian columnist.
