After years of uncertainty, business travel is booming again.
Although industry group Global Business Travel Association is still crunching the data, it projects business travel spending grew by 7.1 percent worldwide last year. By 2022, GBTA predicts the market will be nearly $400 billion larger than it was in 2017.
As teams spend more time on the road, they’ll struggle with additional stress and unhealthy habits. Risk management firm On Call International reports that more than a third of business travelers find travel stressful, while 44 percent say they’re more likely to eat unhealthy foods while away.
Travelers can’t bring every comfort of the office with them while they travel, of course, but they can bring a favorite perk: healthy snacks. By fueling themselves with healthy foods, they can create a buffer against inevitable travel headaches like late flights and airport security.
Office Snacks to Pack
So what healthy snacks should you keep in your suitcase? Try these high-energy, low-mess options:
1. Blueberry almond quinoa bites If you’ve cooked quinoa at home, you know how versatile its nutty, mild flavor is. For an unusual on-the-go treat, we puffed this supergrain and mixed it with cashews, blueberries, pumpkin seeds, and more. The result is a gluten-free, low-sugar office snack that’s full of healthy fats, protein, and fiber. Who said quinoa was only for savory foods?
2. Sriracha roasted cashews
If you’ve never had a spice-rimmed margarita or bloody mary, crunch this office snack up and haul it out at the airport bar. We think you’ll agree it’s superior to salt. Plus, cashews contain magnesium and arginine, which can lower your blood pressure after a stressful client meeting or missed flight. Just keep an eye on your sodium intake, which tends to boost blood pressure right back up.
3. Pistachio power clusters These office snacks are called “power clusters” for a reason: They’re made to get you up and going again after a long night. With 12 grams of plant-based fat per serving (and just 1.5 grams of it unsaturated) plus 4 grams of protein, they’re perfect for tired brains and bodies. Plus, pistachios are one of the richest sources of vitamin B6, which regulates blood sugar and promotes cellular oxygenation, preventing that post-snack crash.
4. Teriyaki beef jerky
Not only is beef jerky full of B vitamins and protein, but this healthy snack is a great way to get more iron and vitamin A. Vitamin A promotes immune health, which can stave off sicknesses that are easy to pick up in hotels and airport lounges. Made with pineapple juice, garlic, and ginger, our teriyaki mix adds the perfect tang to this savory office snack. Just don’t overdo the sodium, which preserves the meat for portable consumption.
5. Chocolate chip granola bars
Granola bars didn’t become the go-to travel snack by accident. Not only are they portable and reasonably non-breakable, but they’ve got plenty of whole grains to keep you going during days on the road. Plus, they’re a fit for almost any diet: They’re gluten-free, vegan, low-sodium, and low-sugar. Most importantly, they’re chock-full of chocolate, which has been shown to cut stress.
Business travel may not be easy, but it doesn’t have to be a slog. And with these healthy office snacks in tow, it certainly doesn’t have to taste bad.
No Comments