Dietary Needs

What is Gluten?
Dietary Needs May 12, 2014

What is Gluten?

Dietary Needs May 12, 2014

Last month I sat in a session at a meetings industry conference on catering for food allergies. Since I had just given a similar session for the same conference (Serve This, Not That!), I wanted to see what this caterer had to say. In the session, one of the attendees asked the chef/owner of the catering company if it is possible to accommodate many different dietary needs with one menu item. He said yes and proceeded to describe a vegetarian, gluten-free barley salad they serve. STOP! Barley is not gluten-free. I told him this and he said, “Really? I didn’t…

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Food-Color-Collage
Dietary Needs Health & Wellness Meetings & Events April 16, 2014

Colorful Food Choices to Make Your Convention Meals Pop

Dietary Needs Health & Wellness Meetings & Events April 16, 2014

When we’re planning events, we think carefully about the color and texture of the décor, presentations and tablescapes, but how much attention do we pay to the color of the food we serve? Did you ever think that colorful food choices could be used for decor or to make your meals pop? Karin Hosenfeld, RD, LD, a dietitian in private practice in Dallas says “studies have shown that people eat the same 20 foods or so over and over.” I think this theory translate to events as well. How many times have you seen the same continental breakfasts – pastries,…

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Event Budgeting
Event Planning Skills Food Allergies April 8, 2014

How to Keep Dietary Restrictions from Sinking Your Event Budget

Event Planning Skills Food Allergies April 8, 2014

Meeting planners are worried about many things when thinking about accommodating guests with special dietary needs, but one of the major fears is the cost. This concern needs to be addressed up front and throughout the planning and budgeting process with both your suppliers and your attendees so you aren’t sinking your event budget. Take a recent question I received after a webinar I gave for Collinson Media. Cathy just hosted a conference for 4,300 people. Of the 458 special meal requests she received, 41 were halal and 12 were kosher. With seven meal functions during the three-day conference, that equated…

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gluten-free oatmeal with fruit is a great solution for diabetics, celiacs and food allergic guests.
Food Allergies Medical Conditions August 13, 2013

How to Read a Banquet Menu

Food Allergies Medical Conditions August 13, 2013

This is the first in a series of posts on evaluating hotel banquet menus for event attendees with dietary needs. If you’ve done your due diligence and asked your guests if they have dietary needs, great job! – but that’s only half the battle. Trying to figure out what to serve everyone when you have guests with food allergies, celiac disease or diabetes, others who are vegan, vegetarians or raw and yet others with cultural or religious beliefs that require a specific diet can be daunting. Allergens are often disguised even in well-labeled banquet menus, and just because you’ve offered…

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Community Dietary Needs March 1, 2013

Focusing on Food You CAN Eat

Community Dietary Needs March 1, 2013

When I was diagnosed with an allergy to yeast 10 years ago, I immediately went out and bought the “Yeast Connection” by William Crook, MD, which was recommended by a friend. It explains how to suspect, identify and overcome chronic health problems related to yeast. I wanted to be better – no more chronic sinus infections, cysts, hives, gas, bloating, menopause symptoms at 30, lethargy and more — so I went cold turkey avoiding the list of foods on the “MUST Avoid” list. Unfortunately neither the food illustrations nor the recipes in it or other Candida-diet books did anything to…

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Lent dietary practices during meetings
Recipes Religious Dietary Practices February 26, 2013

Lent Brings Challenges for Event Planners When Menu Planning

Recipes Religious Dietary Practices February 26, 2013

Two weeks ago the season of Lent began on Wednesday, after a traditional pancake supper the night before. During this annual ritual, millions of Christians all around the world commence a 40-day period of sacrifice, reflection and “spiritual housecleaning” in preparation for Easter. Though the exact timing varies between sects, the liturgical season typically starts on Ash Wednesday and ends just before Easter Sunday, and is meant to represent the period Jesus wandered alone in the desert. The word Lent comes from the Anglo-Saxon work “lencten,” which means spring. Similar to making New Year’s resolutions, some use the time to…

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