Two things you learn quickly in Holland. The weather will change every five minutes, so be prepared (by change I mean gusting winds and pouring rain.) Another thing you learn is you will be ALWAYS be served bread, so be prepared. Even if you have no special dietary requirements this is a culture shock, particularly in business meetings, to participants from countries (almost any) where food is more refined.
This photo was taken at an “exclusive” Business Breakfast Meeting for 250 business owners in the Hague earlier this week. If you are American, this breakfast buffet might seem a bit odd, not exactly the top breakfast sellers on the IHOP or Denny’s breakfast menu. The Dutch like their bread and eat lots of it. How is this good news for me, a person who has sworn off grains almost entirely?
Well, knowing there will be bread every time at every meeting or event forces me to be prepared. I would be an idiot to just assume there will be something that matches my particular bread-free meal plan. Will there ever be something for me to eat at these meetings? Sure sometimes, but no guarantees! Will there ever be something I decide to eat even though it’s not on my plan? Sure sometimes, but these dry looking sandwiches won’t be “it”!
Regardless of the type of diet or meal plan you are trying to stick to, the key is to always be prepared. Living here in the condimentless country of bread sandwiches, I KNOW TO EXPECT BREAD at all events and functions. So I make sure I eat before I go or discreetly bring my own food, usually both, just in case. If you presume you can just eat whatever is served, you will fail. Don’t expect the world to change for you or that everyone will be willing or able to accommodate your special wishes. BE SELF RELIANT! I carry a big handbag and typically my Macbook Air is tucked inside along with a bottle of water, almonds, hard boiled eggs, packet of tuna, remnants of last night’s dinner, basically enough options to feed myself, and even a friend if necessary to be polite, every three hours. Just in case my day takes an unexpected turn, like most days, I am always prepared.
I do eat grains occasionally, but then I want to chose something special, something divine, not one of these mediocre sandwiches at 8am because I am starving and know I’ll be trapped in that meeting room for hours without other options. Restaurants are a completely different story and I want to emphasize that I am not at all a picky eater! I can always find something to order on the menu at any restaurant.
Once you’ve survived the breakfast meeting, brace yourself for the Dutch Business Lunch. You really are never gonna believe this…but for lunch grown men eat sandwiches of bread with butter and chocolate sprinkles. Not just occasionally, and no I’m really not kidding. They wash it down with whole milk, or even a heavier milk called karnemilk, which is buttermilk. I swear I wouldn’t make this up. In fact 750,000 slices of bread topped with chocolate sprinkles are consumed daily in the Netherlands! Wow! Here’s a photo I snapped as I passed by a meeting room just before lunch and the lunch spread was on the table…count em up; three kinds of chocolate sprinkles, one “nutella” type chocolate spread and a jar of peanut butter.
Again, this is lucky for me! Why? Because just like you, I face temptations every day, but chocolate sprinkle sandwiches just aren’t one of them! (I guess because I was raised on Ding Dongs and Suzy-Qs, not Haagelslag.)
Eet smakelijk (bon appetit, Dutch version) pack your lunch box and be prepared to succeed.
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Karnemelk heavier? At least is has less calories than skim (magere) milk.