In his recent article, “Blue Lunch Time,” long time trainer John Wills discusses on-duty eating habits and some of the challenges we face with feeding our bodies clean; fueling them properly. Interestingly, in his article, Mr. Wills mentions a recent study published in the Public Health Journal that linked eating junk food with depression. Now we all know that eating junk food can contribute to physical ailments and challenges like obesity, high blood pressure, increased heart rate, damaged organs and more, but a mental/emotional impact? That may be news to some… and all the more reason to start packing your own meals. Second to the challenge of having time to eat and is having healthy food to eat. Packing a bag lunch won’t carry you through an eight, ten or twelve hour (or more) shift, so what do you do? Enter Six Pack Fitness and their food carry solutions.
I received two bags from Six Pack Fitness to test for carrying food during a work shift. The first was the Innovator 300 shoulder bag, and the second was the Operator Hydration Tactical Pack. Each is designed for, and serves, a different purpose, but the one thing they have in common is the ability to carry prepared meals in included containers and to keep them cold with the provided cold packs. There is also a means of carrying hydration in each of the bags. Let’s take a look at them individually and see if we can figure out their best uses as solutions to keep us eating a bit healthier.
The Innovator 300 is a duffle-type bag that can be carried slung using the included padded shoulder strap or the integrated handle. The bag itself comes with three 24 ounce containers for food, one supplement container (a segmented container similar to the food containers), two large freezer packs and enough pockets to carry four 1-litre water bottles. The 24 ounce food containers have lids that secure tightly and an o-ring type system that prevents leaks. The containers are not segmented (with the exception of the supplements container) so anything you put into them will get mixed, rubbed together, etc. There are two differing outlooks about this: the first is that all food gets mixed after we swallow it anyway, so who cares? The second is that the food is cooked separate, prepared separate and eaten in different bites for a reason (whether it’s taste, texture, etc.) and it should be kept separate until it’s swallowed. If you are part of that second group of people, I’d recommend you purchase some segmented food storage containers at your local grocery store. I did so and for about $5 I got six containers that had two segments, allowing me to prep and keep separate an entrée and a side dish. The segmented supplement container can be used not only for supplements but also for condiments, most especially if the condiments are in individual packages.
While testing this bag / food storage system I prepped several meals that could be carried in the provided containers as well as a couple that I put in the store-bought containers. The two large freezer bags kept everything inside the bag could for at least a ten-hour day and the integrated (and patented) food shelving system keeps things organized neatly. I use Nalgene 1-litre water bottles and before I fill them for the day I fill them about 25% and freeze them. That gives me a chunk of ice in the bottom of each water bottle that helps keep the water and the food stored in the bag cold.
The Innovator 300 bag is the perfect size to put on your passenger floor board in your cruiser, drop in your trunk or seatbelt into one of the seats. Your bigger challenge will be finding a microwave to heat up your food as needed. Then again, if you can wander into your local 7-11 for a donut, you can carry your own healthy food in and heat it up. Trust me, they will not complain.
The Operator Hydration Tactical Pack
Built for a different purpose, the Operator Hydration Tactical Pack is modular and carries a bit smaller food supply – but it allows for carrying a few other items you might need even more. This pack system comes with three 20-ounce food containers (so slightly smaller than the 24-oz containers provided with the Innovator), a smaller supplement container (still usable for condiments/spices as well), two small freezer packs, one medium freezer pack, one water bladder and the removable shelf system for storing your containers. In addition to the water bladder there are two side pockets, each of which expands large enough to carry a 1-litre water bottle.
The shelf system – what Six Pack refers to as the “meal core” – is removable allowing you to use the pack purely as a tactical pack without consideration to using it as a food storage/carrying unit. That said, if you need to carry food and hydration but also want or need room for some medical supplies, change of clothes, flashlight, spare ammo and more, this is the pack for you. The padded adjustable shoulder straps make for comfortable carrying and the three provided freezer packs keep the stored food properly chilled. Once again, the bigger challenge will be heating the food, but my guess is that if you’re using this pack then you’re more likely to be somewhere that doesn’t have a convenient microwave oven. Take that into consideration when you’re prepping your food.
Conclusion
The Innovator 300 is now a permanent part of my travel preparation if I’m going to be away from home for the day or more. I can prepare my healthier meals and save money (in the long run) over purchasing whatever junk food or fast food along my travels. NOTE: TSA regulations will not let you carry this loaded through checkpoints (unfortunately).
The Operator Hydration Tactical Pack is now on permanent duty with a member of the U.S. Air Force who is on call for emergency alerts 24-hours a day. He makes good use of it and enjoys eating healthier than what’s most often available if he gets called out.
For more information, check out the Six Pack Fitness website pages available through the links above.
