are offering more eating options for travelers, including vegetarian and vegan meals that are typically (though not always) lower in saturated fat, calories, and sodium. However, a 2003 study[iv] by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) regrettably noted that of the 10 airlines surveyed, only 1 of the 10 was observed to provide easily available healthy eating choices. 3 of the 10 airlines offered some degree of healthy eating options, though planning ahead was necessary -- something that is not always feasible for travelers. The remaining 6 airlines surveyed were criticized for providing little or no effort at offering vegetarian (i.e. low-fat, low sodium, low calorie) in-flight eating options.

On top of this, travelers are faced with yet another eating challenge that those not in the air are not forced to address. Whereas most people “on the ground” can physically leave a restaurant or deliberately choose to purchase food that conforms to a healthy eating regimen, those “in the air” are often forced to accept what they are given. Most travelers are typically short of time and running from meetings to airports and back again. Therefore, the decision to eat the high-fat, high-calorie, high-sodium, and altogether unbalanced airline meal is often better than the alternative of not eating at all.

While some awareness is creeping into the world of traveler nutrition, thanks in part to the work of the PCRM and others, this awareness is not spreading quickly enough. Business travel in the US comprises over 200 million person-trips per year[v] and this means that a lot unhealthy meals are awaiting a lot of travelers who, quite frankly, need more nutritious food.

There have been some attempts to respond to this massive traveler need, including a halfhearted effort by most airlines to revise menus. There have also been several “nutritional supplement” options, typically in fluid or bar form, that have proposed to help fill this traveler nutritional gap.

Unfortunately, like the revised airline meal effort, the vast majority of these supplements fall short of providing a high-protein, low-calorie, low-carbohydrate nutrition that travelers need. Furthermore, the handful of products that have in some sense met these protein, calorie, and carbohydrate requirements are usually devoid of essential nutrients.

However, a small number of nutritionally wise products are generating positive feedback from travelers, both for nutritional value content, and for traveler-friendly fluid containers that can take a great deal of airport bag handler abuse. Furthermore, since these products are liquid, they can be ingested easily without needing to be diluted, mixed, or taken with large amounts of water or other fluid.

Taken as either a supplement or a meal on its own, these intelligent and scientifically validated nutritional products – which offer a complete range of essential vitamins – help travelers stay healthy in ways that fit into their busy, time-conscious lives.
Founded in 2001, Protica, Inc. is a nutritional research firm with offices in Lafayette Hill and Conshohocken, Pennsylvania. Protica manufactures capsulized foods, including Profect, a compact, hypoallergenic, ready-to-drink protein beverage containing zero carbohydrates and zero fat. Information on Protica is available at www.protica.com. You can also learn about Profect at www.profect.com. References [i] Source “Tips for Eating Healthy Away from Home”. BetterHeathUSA. www.betterhealthusa.com/public/267.cfm [ii] Source: “Healthy Eating on the Road”. Business Traveler Center Magazine. www.businesstravelerusa.com/articles.php?articleID=291 [iii] Source: “Fat Lowering Tips”. Ask The Dietician. www.dietitian.com/fatlower.html [iv] Source “Doctors Rate Airline Food for Healthy Options”. The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. www.pcrm.org/news/health031117.html [v] Source: “Travel Statistics and Trends”. The Travel Industry Association of America. www.tia.org/Travel/traveltrends.asp