Sounds like you are reimbursed on a receipt basis. That must be nice.

However, many of us, particularly in spaces such as government contracting, are reimbursed on a per diem basis, which strongly incentivizes keeping costs low. Particularly when you are out in the sticks on the lowest "standard rate" and are only getting 75% of it for a travel day and can barely wring a decent dinner out of it without going into one's own pocket. In those instances, one would be hard pressed to turn down a free meal.