London City Airport eatery Panopolis attempts to make travel less stressful.
Panopolis, a London City Airport eatery, has introduced a new concept in eating for the busy, stressed business executive. Those travelling on business can now choose from six ‘take on board’ takeaway meals, available on the airside (post-security) when ordered land side (pre-security).
This is great news for the busy business executives who want greater choice when flying, particularly from the food served during the flight (if at all!). Although, not so great for the business travellers who need to choose wisely by selecting healthier options.
Business travel is one of the seven major sources of pressure for the busy working professional. Being on the move significantly interrupts work and lifestyle routines as well as inevitably changing nutritional needs. In the travelling mode, a business person may experience reduced access to healthy options and food that they are familiar with. This means that they are less familiar with the nutritional profile and how it fits their overall daily intake. The option to take something on the flight provides flexibility and support to a busy schedule.
However, frequent business trips are also associated with higher body mass index, blood pressure, blood cholesterol and glucose. So it’s also important to choose wisely as well as conveniently. Panopolis offer reusable, insulated picnic bags which include breakfast, vegetarian and non-vegetarian menus. Unfortunately, most appear to be on the high in sodium side (which is linked to hypertension), fat and calories (which contribute to the risk of being overweight), as they comprise mainly sandwiches, crisps, little if any vegetable, one fruit and a drink of water.
For a lower sodium, fat and calorie option you could choose from a number of other items available at Panopolis. But you will still have to ask if you can use the ‘take on board’ takeaway option i.e. the picnic bag and collection on airside.
Examples include prepared salads (seafood & egg, chicken Chasseur, and Greek salad), fruit or fruit salad, smoothies and baked potatoes (although I’m not entirely sure if this can be included in the ‘take on board’ options). Fruit salads are quite expensive in comparison to individual fruit. The latter being more fulfilling as it has a higher fibre and satiety value.
Although water is included in the ‘take on board’ picnic pack, you could always ask to include a smoothie as well as or replacement of another item if you prefer. Don’t forget, you can’t take 500 ml fluid through security, so the prepared ‘take on board’ option gets nicely around having to purchase water on the other side once you get through security. This is important when flying as the air inside most planes is thinner and drier than the Sahara desert, consequently, you will expel more water than usual and require fluid replacement to keep optimally hydrated. Dehydration is a serious air travel hazard as it makes your blood more concentrate (‘thicker’) increasing the risk of deep vein thrombosis. This is another reason why you need to watch the sodium content in your food choices as your kidneys will be working hard to get rid of the excess sodium in your body to maintain a balance in the concentration of electrolytes within.
Lastly, if you want to reduce the sodium content of the picnic bag further, ask to replace the crisps with yoghurt or even a roll to accompany the salad, avoiding the high fat and additional high sodium filling such as bacon.
Don’t forget, you can also ring Panopolis in advance on 020 7646 0423 and make enquiries about picnic bag before you even get to the airport.
© 2014 Extravitality
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As a general rule, retail stores such as Boots, M&S Simply Foods and WHSmith do offer lower priced bottles of water than eateries. That said, this article was about relieving the stress when travelling by choosing healthier food options which can be collected on the other side. As you can’t pass through security with water, it might be easier to purchase your water once you get through security than purchasing it at Pret A Manger or Panopolis and just order your food to pick up on airside.
Panopolis is ridiculously expensive. £2.25 for a bottle of Buxton Water and stale bread baguettes at £6. Err no thanks.
Advice go to the pret downstairs. You can get a water normally priced in the two WHSmiths.