Eating on the road: Healthy and delicious meals on business trips

During the stress of a business trip, when you are often rushing from meeting to meeting, a healthy and balanced diet can quickly become a real challenge. If this is compounded by involuntary business meals and unfamiliar or exotic cuisine, daily meals can quickly become quite a headache for business travelers. Yet you need a sufficient supply of vitamins and nutrients right now in order to stay focused and efficient while traveling and to be able to cope with all the associated challenges. But with the right planning and strategy, it is possible to eat healthily while traveling and still enjoy the local cuisine.

Healthy travel catering

The right healthy diet for your business trip starts with good planning in advance. Even before you set off on your trip, you can search out restaurants and food options near your hotel or familiarize yourself with specialties of local cuisine that are of particular interest to you. Choose restaurants with healthy menu options that offer fresh ingredients and balanced meals.

Then, during the trip itself, it's especially important that you achieve a varied diet with plenty of protein, healthy carbohydrates, vegetables and healthy fats. Try to stay away from sugary and highly processed foods and instead focus on whole foods that will keep you energized and full for longer.

Eating on business trips

Breakfast is known to be the most important meal of the day for many people and is also the basis of the diet on a business trip. You will certainly find a wide selection of breakfast options in your hotel, which often vary greatly in nutritional value and quality. Choose low-sugar options such as natural yoghurt with wholegrain muesli and fruit or a hearty option with scrambled eggs or similar. Not everyone likes an extensive breakfast, but on a strenuous business trip you can use it to create an important foundation for the rest of the day.

It's best to take healthy snacks such as nuts, dried fruit, protein bars or fresh fruit with you on your trip to satisfy your hunger in between meals. Such snacks are easy to transport and offer a quick and nutritious option when you're on the go and don't have time for a meal. It's not for nothing that nuts such as almonds, Brazil nuts and walnuts have a reputation for being brain food and boosting mental performance.

You can find the right bag for your business trip in our Oberwerth Shop. Whether classic laptop bagstylish business backpack or a practical weekender / suitcase inserts. Handmade from the finest leather and high-quality fittings with a lifetime guarantee. Take a look at our store and find the bag that suits you best!

Self-catering for more healthy options

If you get tired of eating at the hotel or local restaurants, you still have the option of self-catering for a few meals. If you know in advance that your requirements are so specific that you will find it difficult to find suitable catering or you prefer to cook for yourself anyway, you can also discuss with your employer before the business trip whether you can be provided with an apartment with a kitchen for the duration of your business trip instead of a hotel room. This will give you the opportunity to cook to your heart's content. Before booking, be sure to check the description of the equipment in the respective kitchen to avoid any nasty surprises when you arrive.

In search of the right restaurant

Gone are the days when travelers had to make do with fast food when looking for meals on the road. In many modern restaurants you will find quick and healthy options for a good meal in between. Asian-inspired cuisine in particular offers a wide range of options. Be sure to check the menu beforehand and ask the waiter how long the food is likely to take. Even if they are not always accurate, reviews on Google, Yelp, Tripadvisor or similar platforms can help you get an overview of the restaurants available in your area and what they offer.

Once you have found the restaurant of your choice, you should choose dishes that are balanced and, if possible, rich in vegetables, protein and whole grains. Don't be afraid to ask for special adaptations, whether you have real dietary restrictions due to food allergies or intolerances or simply your own ideas of what you need. Most restaurants are willing to customize the meal according to your preferences and may, for example, serve an extra sauce or offer a salad instead of fries.

Exploring the local cuisine

One of the best experiences on a business trip can be getting closer to the local culture by exploring local specialties. It should be noted that traditional dishes, especially when prepared in restaurants rather than at home, are often greasy and particularly meat-heavy. On a business trip, however, you have the advantage that your hosts, business partners and customers are very familiar with the local cuisine and will be happy to help you find the right restaurant with traditional dishes. Describe as precisely as possible what you like to eat, what you may be particularly interested in and what you definitely don't want. Restaurants that specialize in using local and seasonal ingredients are often particularly interesting. With a bit of luck, they will even accompany you to a suitable restaurant and help you order!

Special diets and food allergies

Vegetarians and vegans, as well as those who eat halal or kosher or have other special dietary requirements, are usually used to finding out about local conditions and suitable food options in advance. Just like at home, you should communicate any special requirements for upcoming business meals well in advance so that your hosts can make satisfactory adjustments to your diet.

It is usually a little easier for people who suffer from food intolerances or allergies. A simple request is usually enough to achieve an adjustment. If you anticipate communication problems due to language or cultural differences in the destination country, it can be helpful to have a note with an unambiguous message ready for the waiter. Also, always check what you have on your plate before eating, as some information can get lost in the communication between service staff and the kitchen.

Conclusion

Even if a healthy and balanced diet is without question a real challenge on business trips, it is extremely important. Alongside good quality sleep and sufficient relaxation and rest, it should be a priority on your business trip. This is the only way to ensure that you are in ideal shape and resilient enough to cope with the many professional demands of the trip. With a little preparation and the right tips from your local contacts, you can not only find the right food, but also get to know the local cuisine. And then bon appétit!