Nine meals you won't miss at a German canteen

Schnitzel is Germany's favorite lunchtime dish at work, according to the Compass Group survey. Even for the DW canteen, which serves many people from several countries, "the German dishes are strangely the most popular ones," says Hermann Müller, the head chef of the DW canteen.

Currywurst - bratwurst served with tomato ketchup sprinkled with curry powder - is ranked at number two in German canteens. "Even if we didn't like it, we would have to offer it because out of 1,700 meals at least 800 to 900 currywurst are sold," says Müller.

Italy's spaghetti bolognaise gets bronze. Regional and international dishes have become popular in canteens but the popularity of spaghetti bolognaise is obvious even in stores where it is among the most popular frozen meals.

Meat is a popular choice in Germany. Whilst hamburgers and meatballs landed fourth place, Thuringian and Nuremberg sausages with mashed potatoes ended up in fifth place. And Germans do also go for healthier options - the Chicken Caesar salad is sixth.

Pizza and and pasta with minced meat came in at number seven and eight. The "Eintopf," a German stew (meat optional) rounded up the most popular means. Vegetarian and vegan dishes account for 10 to 15 percent of meals in German canteens, says Sebastian Zösch, who heads the association for vegetarians in Germany.

"Canteens in Germany register over 13 million customers on an average working day," says Zösch from the vegetarian association. Around 33 million euros ($41.11 million) is spent in canteens every day, so there is a lot of money to be made.