The business meetings are sure an engaging platform for many important decisions to be taken. There are several foods served on the table top of the conference room. But the success of the meeting depends on the productivity of the attendees. Their concentration and alertness are sure to be the result of the foods which keeps them awake.
The foods rich in white flour, heavy meats, and sugary delights should be avoided. These conventional foods are sure to be adding a lethargic tone among all the people present in the meeting. They will surely feel sleepy with the indulgence of such foods.
So, let’s have a quick look at the foods which will energize the meetings and improve the focus of the gang:
- Drinks
For meetings in the morning, the drinks like milk tea, coffee or green tea, fresh fruit juices, and mineral water are best suited. The coffee offered may be caffeinated or decaf. These fat-free beverages have sugar content really less. The sugar component in all these drinks is restricted, and they are sure to give energy to the person at one go. They are easy to serve and even easy to procure.
The drinks should be served according to the room temperature. These drinks will suffice for the meetings that are supposed to last for a few minutes or an hour. Snacks which are light on tummy like a brown bread cheese sandwich or some wheat cracker biscuit may be served along with it.
- Breakfast
The board room meetings which are meant for some rigorous paper discussions may last up to some hours. The breakfast potluck may include some filler along with drinks. These light refreshments may include pita bread pockets, whole grain sandwiches with greens. Foods that are low in salt and sodium are also popular nowadays.
A low-fat fruit muffin or a coffee cake may be included for the sweet cravings. These baked goods are meant to increase the concentration power of the employees. The pastries and donuts should definitely be skipped from the menu. They are high-calorie foods which are sure to cause bloating.
Fruit servings are also a good option with pomegranate and grapefruit in the platter along with papaya which will keep the stomach happy. The non-fattening foods will make everyone in the meeting going gaga about the tempting display of food which was consumed without guilt.
- Lunch
The presence of a healthy luncheon at the business meeting is the first step which creates a healthy environment at the conference hall. The foods at the business meetings may range from continental lunch to gluten-free, vegetarian meal assemble. They must be a low-calorie option.
The salad with olive oil dressing is a good serving with acceptance worldwide.
The healthy luncheon constituting of baked potatoes and broth-based soups are favorites with the people who like consuming low-fat diets. These are appropriately served with whole grain pieces of bread, pretzels, and croissants. The unsalted pretzels or popcorns are served during short food breaks between the meetings.
One of the convenient ways to get these recipes and food option is through the custom menu from a private chef. Hiring a private chef for special business meetings with your clients can work in advantage of your management and extra attention towards the needs of the clients or employees participating in the event.
There are crunchy nibbles in the form of vegetables or nuts which are good on the stomach and have appeal too. The burgers and french-fries should be a no if you are hosting business lunch for some senior officials and potential buyers and clients.
These fatty options should be swapped with a variety of low-carb snacks and vegetable trays and baked chips. Diet cheese squares and low-fat crackers are served with beverages at mid-afternoon breaks.
- Snacks
The meeting day is an important decision-making day for many institutions and offices. The healthy eating choices made by many co-workers promote healthy foods at work-related events. The snacks which comprise of whole grain bread and low-fat mayonnaise with an addition of fruits and green leafy vegetables make the meeting platter yummy.
Some establishments consider it mandatory to give their workers the vegetable platter including celery, carrots, cucumbers, and sweet bell peppers along with French dip prepared in olive oils. They stress upon the consumption of a significant portion of crunchy salads in snacks so that the healthy eating practices are observed in the workplace. This not only encourages the employees to eat healthily but prevent the effects of diseases caused by unhealthy diets.
Important things which should be taken care of while ordering the food for business meetings are:
- The in-house meeting meals should be set so that they can easily be repeatable. This will save not only time but also money. Organizing a meeting is a regular affair in an office so, having to look at the food order again and again will waste a lot of time. The task will be simplified, and surely it will reduce last minutes hassles.
- Sometimes the mood of the client may be influenced by the right choice of food for them. The selection of wrong food item, like a very light snack for an afternoon meeting or ample of sugar content in food and no proteins, will make a disaster for the energy levels of employees in a long meeting. So, order accordingly and have the meeting go like a cake walk.
- The appearance of the food will reflect the reputation of the company. The food need not be very expensive, but the people who need to be impressed with the food should remember your hospitality for quite a long time. So, make sure to order accordingly.
- The serving of food may be delayed sometimes. The cold lunch is the worst part of the lunch meetings. So, ensure the timings are appropriate for the ordering and the serving. Alternatively, for mini-meetings, something which can be eaten cold should be ordered like sandwiches.
It is meant that the food meetings should accomplish with the members fetched completely and the meeting agenda fulfilled. The timings for the meetings need different food items according to the schedules. Therefore, great foods should be selected to keep the tummies satisfied and the minds focused for all the attendees.