What’s on your plate, Sir?

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: The job description of a suitcase requires it to endure all the rough and tumble possible when its master hits the road. Unfortunately, the stomach is treated almost likewise by most travellers. But neither is there an obligation for it, nor any good reasons.

Jet-hopping executives cannot really afford to ignore their health. Their food and beverage consumption pattern is a critical component of their success. Moreover, when one’s meal schedules are dependent on those of their flights and business meetings, it’s all the more difficult.

So where does one start?

Maybe breakfast! LG Electronics India managing director Moon B Shin starts his day with a heavy breakfast normally comprising toast, eggs and some cornflakes with milk. And later in the day it is “a healthy tossed salad followed by fresh fruits for lunch.” An “avid lover of soups,” he “prefers chicken sweet corn or mushroom soup for dinner.”

Executives on the move may also end up doing a fair bit of socialising bringing with it the unavoidable rich food and alcoholic beverages. “I make sure I do not have more than two drinks of 30 ml each,” says Indo-American Chamber of Commerce national president Deepak Pawha whose position entails a lot of business meets.

“My formula is quantity. No matter what you are eating, assuming these are at quality places, it cannot hurt you if you limit how much you are eating,” feels PVR Cinemas managing director Ajjay Bijli. One cannot argue with that; his already lean frame has lost a further seven kilos in recent months.

Many executives have their own checklist of what goes and what doesn’t on their table. “No fatty, fried and junk foods for me,” says Apollo International vice chairman Raaja Kanwar. It’s daal and roti in the evening for Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide, India president Meenakshi Bhalla. “Brown bread is my favourite. Go for a protein-rich diet and avoid sugar and sugar ‘busters’ like rice, potatoes and white bread,” suggests Pawha.

A vegetarian by choice, Bird Group executive director Ankur Bhatia says he goes for high-energy foods that are rich in fibre. BharatMatrimony Group CEO Murugavel Janakiraman says he prefers a vegetarian diet when travelling with loads of fresh juices and salads. Subhash Projects and Marketing vice chairman Subhash Sethi, himself a vegetarian, adds, “I stick to non-greasy, light food to keep my productivity high when travelling.”

Of course, the odd binge is unavoidable, but one can easily atone for such sins. Bhalla admits to being “cautious but not overtly. I don’t give a damn and eat everything,” is how she prefers to put it. “There are times when I indulge, but then I balance it out with few moderate meals,” she adds. Ladies take note.

What about shots of caffeine to keep one going? They are best avoided. If not, then stick to the moderation principle. Bhatia, for instance “consumes a lot of water and green tea in the day,” while Shin gives a thumbs up to “fresh fruit juice rather than drinking tea and coffee.” Kanwar particularly expresses a preference for zero-calorie or diet beverages only.

Let the health experts indulge you now. Unsalted nuts between meals are strongly recommended. They don’t just curb hunger pangs but also assist in digestion. Also, avoid airline food. If you really don’t have a choice, then eat light.

While travelling, smaller but more frequent meals should be the mantra. And don’t forget drinking water — loads of it. No other beverage can substitute this one.

“The bad news is that not too many executives are yet taking care of what and how much they eat. Medical advise and programs work only if executives impose self-discipline upon themselves as a preventive measure. They come to us for cures after their body can take no more,” says Fortis hospital, Noida COO Praveen Chawla. “Problem is we all know what’s good for us, but do not care to do much about it,” adds VLCC Healthcare director Sandeep Ahuja.

For those seeking a guru mantra to get going on a gastro path with minimum rumbling noise, consider this. For NIIT Technologies CEO Arvind Thakur “diet is very important.” He “usually avoids things that can lead to a build up of cholesterol. Eggs without yolk for breakfast, vegetarian meals for lunch and dinner, occasional indulgence in white meat, food low on salt, and lots of fruits. I follow this regime at home but it is difficult to maintain it while travelling.”