Dietary Needs

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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Duty of Care Lifestyle Choices December 10, 2012

Influencing Eating Habits

Duty of Care Lifestyle Choices December 10, 2012

Being the guinea pig is not necessarily the best thing when trying new foods. They (my nieces and nephew) are the first to tell me it’s gross. But, it’s fantastic when I make something they love and repeatedly ask for. Guacamole and roasted Brussels sprouts are two those things that come to mind. What’s even better is when I realize I’ve influenced them without really trying. A few days last month, I was pleasantly surprised three times.

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Soy Allergies
Food Allergies Thrive! in the News November 13, 2012

How to Cope with Soy Allergies in College

Food Allergies Thrive! in the News November 13, 2012

Soy, one of the eight most common food allergies around the world, is a particularly difficult allergy to manage because its used in a lot of processed foods. Those allergic to soy must be ardent food label readers to ensure their health and safety. College students, who are living on their own for the first time, must become even more prudent about it since they are relying daily on someone else making their meals. However, by choosing whole, unprocessed foods, eating from the school salad bar or requesting a baked potato with soy-free toppings, can make it easier. In this…

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