Staying Healthy While Traveling for Work Guide to Maintaining Your Diet and Fitness on a Business Trip

Maintaining healthy habits can be challenging enough for professionals who stay close to home, but when business travel is added to the mix, maintaining a healthy diet and exercise routine can be even more difficult. In this guide, professionals will find advice on how to choose healthy foods, keep up with exercise, and avoid common meal mistakes while on business trips. In addition, there are recommendations for apps that can keep people on track with their diet and exercise as they travel.
Work & Wellness While Traveling
- According to a survey conducted by Carlson Wagonlit Travel, 41 percent of business travelers from the Americas exercise while on trips, compared to 50 percent of those based in Asia and 40 percent of those from Europe. (Business Travel News)
- A survey of millennials done by Hilton Hotels & Resorts revealed that 44 percent gained weight during business trips. (The Ladders)
- According to Hilton Hotels & Resorts, people who travel frequently for work have more challenges maintaining a healthy lifestyle than those who don't. (Skift)
- An On Call International survey reports that 44 percent of professionals are more likely to indulge in unhealthy foods while on business trips than they would be at home. (Forbes)
- 54 percent of people who take business trips are less likely to work out when travelling than they are when they're at home. (Forbes)
Eating Well on a Work Trip
Although business travel can feel like a nice getaway from day-to-day office life, people should be mindful not to overindulge during these trips. Below are some ideas for healthy foods that people can pack when they're traveling in order to satisfy their hunger and keep their calorie count down.
Business travelers who plan ahead can pack some perishable foods for their trip, which can be kept cool by placing them in a soft-sided cooler. In order to avoid overeating, it's best to pack foods in single servings that can be separated with small, resealable plastic storage bags. The following are perishable staples that can be packed for a business trip.
- Fresh fruits
- Hard boiled eggs
- Cut vegetables
- Cheese sticks
- Pre-cooked meats
People who don't want to travel with perishable items can still pack healthy snacks that will satisfy their hunger. The following are examples of non-perishable snacks that can easily be packed in resealable plastic bags.
- Trail mix
- Pretzels
- Nuts or seeds
- Beef jerky
- Popcorn
Common Meal Mistakes While Traveling:
When people are traveling for work, they may be more focused on getting everything done, and not so much on what they're eating along the way. As a result, they may make some common meal mistakes, such as the ones below.
- Skipping breakfast. Although work trips can be hectic, it's important for people to start the day off right with breakfast, which helps to keep the metabolism running and staves off cravings later. But breakfast does not have to be an elaborate affair—even a quick bowl of cereal with fruit is enough to get the energy needed to get going.
- Eating oversized portions. "Don't feel the need to eat three full restaurant meals a day," said JoAnn Yánez, Executive Director of the Association of Accredited Naturopathic Medical Colleges. "For most people, three full restaurant-sized portions are too much for a day's caloric intake. You can ask for half portions or order from the appetizer menu."
- Not drinking enough water. Oftentimes, dehydrations can cause sensations that mimic hunger, which can lead to overeating when what's really needed is more water. In order to prevent snacking on unhealthy foods, it's important to drink water throughout the day.
- Drinking too much. "If you want to treat yourself, have a drink, but limit yourself. You want to make sure your mind is clear for your meetings, so don't overdo alcohol just because you are traveling," said Deborah Sweeney, CEO of MyCorporation.com, who is a frequent flier and traveler for work-related initiatives for her company. "Remember the reason you are there. Eat healthy, drink water, and limit alcohol intake."
- Giving in to social pressures. "No one can make you do anything," said Joey Daoud, CEO and Head Coach of New Territory Fitness. "Dinners and after parties can amp up the social pressure of feeling the need to overindulge or drink. You might feel pressured into not making the best decision in the moment."
10 Strategies to Eat Well During Your Stay
Although eating healthy during business trips can be challenging, it's not impossible. The following tips can keep busy professionals on track as they work to balance a healthy lifestyle with their business travel.
It's easy to get caught up in the moment when eating out, which can lead to making unhealthy choices. By asking a restaurant for the nutritional information of a meal, people can get the reality check they need to pick something healthier.
Although salads are healthy, by the time a restaurant slathers the veggies with high-calorie dressing, the benefits of getting one can be undermined. By asking for dressing on the side, people can have more control of their caloric intake.
"Protein helps you to stay full and also enables you to think more clearly," said Sweeney. "When traveling for business, you often have to be 'on target', so it's important to avoid being hungry, but also to be healthy and ready to endure long meetings."
Bringing a water bottle can encourage people to drink more water, which goes a long way toward staying hydrated throughout the day. Also, people who want to stay hydrated with a little bit more flavor can bring bags of tea or water flavoring with them to drink on their trip.
A cup of coffee can inject some energy into people after working long hours, but business travelers should be mindful of exactly what's in the coffee they're ordering. Certain drinks from a nearby coffee shop may sound delicious, but they can also pack a significant caloric punch.
Eating healthy snacks doesn't have to be limited to travel time. People can also pack snacks that they can eat in the office between meals, which will prevent them from getting unhealthy options from vending machines.
"People traveling should limit calories from alcohol and juices, and avoid sodas as well," said Yánez. "Drink plenty of water instead. Seltzer (sparkling water) is another good option for hydration."
When eating at restaurants, people can reduce their calories by asking for substitutions for unhealthy sides. Instead of getting french fries that come with a meal, for example, people can ask for grilled vegetables or a salad. Asking for food to be prepared in a healthier way is also an option – for example, request grilled chicken instead of fried.
Planning meals can help to prevent overeating by ensuring meal choices aren't driven by immediate hunger. If planning ahead is not possible, keeping healthy snacks on hand will help to tide travelers over until the next meal.
Choosing a "Healthy" Hotel.
When people stay in hotels during their business travel, they can find plenty of ways to break their usual healthy eating habits. The following are some pointers to help resist some of the temptation.
Fitness Tips for Business Travelers
Just as eating healthy on a business trip can be difficult, it can also be challenging to get in good workouts when traveling. The following are some ways business travelers can work out even during the busiest of trips.
Travel-Friendly Workout Gear
Business travelers don't need a lot of bulky, expensive equipment to get a good workout in their hotel room. In fact, there are lightweight workout gear options they can conveniently find online or at their local sporting goods store. The following are some examples of travel-friendly workout gear.
12 Apps & Tech to Maintain Health on the Go
For those who want to use their phone or tablet to help them stay on track with eating healthy meals and exercise as they travel, there are a number of apps available to help them meet their goals. The following are some examples of these apps.
Meals
HealthyOut
This app is perfect for traveling professionals because it allows people to find a healthy restaurant wherever they are in the United States. Whether people want to eat a vegetarian or low carb meal, they can find a place to eat in the local area.Lose It
People who are working to lose weight can use this app to track how many calories they have eaten every day, as well as how many have been burned off through exercise. Also, people can share recipes with friends and participate in fitness challenges on this app.Fooducate
Users can learn more about the food they eat as they log their daily calories on this app. Fooducate also allows people to track mood, sleep, exercise, and hunger.LocalEats
This app helps business travelers find quality restaurants in a local area based on ratings from foodie websites, newspapers, and magazines. In addition, people can review menus and make reservations through this app.Nutrifix
Users can find healthy meals nearby with this app. It also allows people to build a food profile so it can find restaurants with dishes that suit their needs.ShopWell
Those who plan to visit a local grocery store during their business trip can use this app to make healthy choices. People scan grocery store items with the app and it gives them information on how healthy they are, as well as the impact certain foods will have on health conditions like diabetes and gluten intolerance.Fitness
Map My Run
This app allows people to find routes for runs in any city they're in. Users can find a suitable route whether they are a brand new runner or someone with a lot of experience.Pocket Yoga
Professionals who bring a yoga mat on a business trip can use this app to find a routine. Users can choose a routine based on difficulty level, as well as get instruction on how to do different poses properly.7-Minute Workout Challenge
Busy professionals can use this app to get an effective, compact workout. In addition, the app allows users to choose the intensity of their workout routine.Sworkit
People who are staying in a hotel without a gym can use this app to do bodyweight exercise routines. Users can choose established workouts or create their own.ClassPass
This app allows people to find and sign up for fitness classes in the area they're in. Business travelers who want to find a local class can choose from various kinds of exercise, including yoga, Pilates, cycling, or strength training.Aaptiv
People can get access to audio workouts led by personal trainers through this app. Workouts they can choose from can be completed both inside and outside of a gym.Meet the Experts
Deborah Sweeney is the CEO of MyCorporation.com which provides online legal filing services for entrepreneurs and businesses, startup bundles that include corporation and LLC formation, registered agent services, DBAs, and trademark and copyright filing services. You can find MyCorporation on Twitter at @MyCorporation and Deborah at @deborahsweeney.
Joey Daoud is the CEO and Head Coach of New Territory Fitness, a remote coaching company focused on giving busy professionals the tools and knowledge to lead healthy, active lives.
JoAnn Yánez, ND, MPH is the Executive Director of the Association of Accredited Naturopathic Medical Colleges and the vice-chair of ACIH. Weaving a passion for illness prevention into her professional life, Dr. Yánez career has spanned advocacy, academia, patient care and public health. As AANMC Executive Director, Dr. Yánez oversees research, advocacy efforts, and the joint academic endeavors of the accredited colleges of naturopathic medicine. Additionally, she helps spread awareness of naturopathic medicine as a viable and satisfying career path.
Kenya McCullum is a freelance writer with extensive experience covering topics such as education, the workplace, health, and legal issues. She has an M.A. in Communication and when she worked as a teaching assistant in graduate school, she developed a passion for helping students succeed. Since earning her master's degree, she has combined her love of the written word with her desire to help people meet their goals—whether they want to excel in school, land their dream job, or improve their physical and mental health.
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