Make Your Next Meeting Waistline Friendly

Staying healthy at work is no easy task. From breakfast donuts to eat-out lunches, work can be a nightmare for health-conscious employees. As an employer, you can help.

The guidelines listed below can be used for selecting foods and beverages for breaks or meals at meetings, conferences, and other work-related events. When planning menus, consider providing options that accommodate various dietary preferences and needs.

1. Offer a variety of grains – especially whole-grain foods – and fruits and vegetables. Examples include fresh fruit and salads; fresh and cooked vegetables; whole-grain breads, pasta, and cereals; and muffins, fruit breads, or granola bars.
2. Provide fat-free, low-fat, or low-calorie foods and beverages. Ideas include fat-free or low-fat dressings or toppings such as salsa, low-fat yogurt dressing, sweet mustard; low-fat or low-calorie desserts such as angel food cake; low-fat or skim milk, low-fat yogurt or cheeses; and lean meats, poultry or fish, cooked and dried beans, peas and lentils.
3. Offer foods and beverages low in added sugars. You could serve unsweetened cereals, fruit spreads, cereal bars, water, 100% fruit juices, and regular and decaffeinated coffee or tea.
4. Serve foods that are low in salt and sodium, such as unsalted pretzels, popcorn, or baked chips; grilled or roasted entrees; and entrees cooked with spices and herbs instead of salt.
5. Include smaller portions such as mini-muffins or mini-bagels and 1-inch low-fat cheese squares.
6. Consider offering only beverages at mid-morning and mid-afternoon breaks.

Keep these tips in mind when planning your next workplace meeting or conference. Click here to download a PDF to keep in your office.