Most Hungarians are aware that their daytime meals significantly impact their workplace performance, either improving or hindering it. However, in practice, they tend to forget about this – as pointed out by Eisberg in their Colour Bowls Research conducted on the Opinio platform. According to the representative survey, three-quarters of the respondents spend no more than half an hour for lunch, and one-fifth of them don’t even spend 15 minutes. The research also revealed that most Hungarian workers still rely on homemade food for their workplace meals. Most bring food from home, and the majority, by their own admission, rarely consume snacks during the day.

Eisberg Hungary conducted the Colour Bowls Research for the first time this year to shed light on some surprising trends in workplace or home-office mealtimes.

“I was very excited to be part of the development of the Colour Bowls, because in our fast-paced world, these complex salad bowls contribute to a balanced diet. They provide the body with valuable nutrients such as fibers, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and full proteins while creating delicious flavor combinations. We wanted to examine how consciously Hungarians approach their diet and workplace meals, and how much time and thought they dedicate to what they consume,”said Kinga Shenker-Horváth, a dietitian at the University of Physical Education and Sports Science, and the brand ambassador for Eisberg.

For many of us, it’s true that, in the midst of daily work duties, we rush through lunch just to have more time for work and other tasks. According to the survey results, more than half (53%) of those participating in the survey spend only 15-30 minutes on lunch. Almost a quarter (21%) of respondents spend even less time, finishing their lunch within 15 minutes.

Time is one thing, but it’s also important what’s on our plate. While most of the respondents (54%) still prefer an omnivorous diet, many stick specifically to Hungarian cuisine (23%), while others follow a special diet (e.g., vegetarian or vegan). The survey also found that the majority of respondents (59%) eat food brought from home to the workplace. This trend is particularly prominent among women (65%). “Homemade food is not only cost-effective, but also a more conscious choice, allowing us to monitor more precisely what we’re consuming. This is harder to control when eating at nearby restaurants, canteens, or purchasing food from workplace cafeterias,” the dietitian added.

In recent years, the major workplace issue has been home office and how much time and energy is spent on preparing and eating lunch during that time. More than half of the respondents (52%) said their workplace offers the option to work from home, so they solve their meals at home during the day. However, only about a third of them (33%) said they have more time and eat more consciously because of this, meaning the widespread home office due to the coronavirus pandemic didn’t bring us closer to healthier eating habits.

Every workplace has stressful workdays. For many, the pressure leads to daytime snacking. However, the survey results indicate that most can resist the temptation: nearly half of the respondents (45%) rarely eat snacks during work hours. Only one-fifth of respondents admit they often snack during the day.

The fact that most people bring food from home and rarely snack at work suggests that many of us are aware that well-chosen meals affect our energy levels and concentration. The survey specifically asked about the relationship between eating and performance: nearly half of the respondents (45%) said they experience improved work performance due to healthy eating.

The nutrition expert emphasized that transitioning to conscious eating greatly impacts both our physical and mental health. She added: “Eisberg’s new products, the Colour Bowls, are designed to offer a health-conscious alternative to workplace fast lunches. These bowls are not just simple salads, but complete main dishes containing fresh vegetables, protein sources – such as meat, fish, cheese, or eggs – and grains (pasta or bulgur). They are tasty, nutritious, and provide a balanced intake of nutrients for the busy everyday life.”

Eisberg’s 3 Colour Bowls:

Pesto & Chicken Colour Salad Bowl
Ham & Egg Colour Salad Bowl
Tuna & Bulgur Colour Salad Bowl

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About the Research:
The Colour Bowls Research was conducted by Eisberg, commissioned to the Opinio online public opinion platform, with a representative sample of 1000 people from the internet-using community. The research aims to align with Eisberg’s goal for Colour Bowls products: to raise awareness about the importance of daytime meals and show that healthy, balanced, and yet delicious options are available to maintain health and performance.