Dietary Needs

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Dietary Needs May 9, 2018

Celebrate Food & Beverage Inclusion & Awareness

Dietary Needs May 9, 2018

  As I sat down to write this month’s newsletter with a focus on Food Allergy Awareness Month (#FAAW18) and Celiac Disease Awareness Month (#CDAM18), I remembered that May is also the anniversary of my company. Happy 8th birthday to thrive! How apropos that I officially opened thrive! in the month that also celebrates and raises awareness of food allergies and celiac disease, two of the many dietary needs that I advocate on behalf of so individuals with them can eat safely and feel included where they eat. Eight years ago I wasn’t aware of the annual celebrations, I just knew I wanted and…

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Religious Dietary Practices April 25, 2018

May Religious Dietary Restrictions Calendar

Religious Dietary Practices April 25, 2018

In keeping with my commitment to bring a helpful monthly dietary restrictions calendar to everyone, here are May dates to keep in mind as you plan menus for May events. May 1st   Observance & Dietary Restriction Lailat al Bara’ah (Islam) – This holy day is known as Lailat al-Bara’ah (“Night of Forgiveness”) in Arabic and Shab-Barat in Persian. It is celebrated on the night of the full moon. It is believed this is the night when fates are fixed. How to include participants Followers observe the date by holding a vigil throughout the night. They congregate at the local…

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Dietary Needs Food Service Laws & Regulations Meetings & Events April 11, 2018

Cannabis Update for Meetings and Events

Dietary Needs Food Service Laws & Regulations Meetings & Events April 11, 2018

With more and more states legalizing marijuana, your next event might be held in a state where it’s legal—and if that’s the case, you better believe that some event attendees will want to get high. There’s a lot to learn about the topic before allowing cannabis at your event, but I’ve compiled the basics to get you started. [list icon=”icon: check-square-o” icon_color=”#d81c5c”] As of January (when Vermont signed on), recreational marijuana use is legal in nine states: Alaska, California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington. In Vermont and the District of Columbia, it’s legal but, you can’t buy…

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Religious Dietary Practices March 28, 2018

April Religious Dietary Restrictions Calendar

Religious Dietary Practices March 28, 2018

In keeping with my commitment to bring a helpful monthly religious dietary restrictions calendar to everyone, here are April dates to keep in mind as you plan menus for April events. March 30-April 7th   Observance & Dietary Restriction Pesach / Passover is a Jewish holiday with a significant work restriction. It’s a week-long observance commemorating the freedom and exodus of the Israelites (Jewish slaves) from Egypt during the reign of the Pharaoh Ramses II. It is one of three pilgrimage festivals. Family gatherings, ritualized meals called Seders, reading of the Haggadah, lighting of Yahrzeit memorial candle at sundown on…

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Food Allergies March 21, 2018

Food Labels: Meaning, Safety, and Duty of Care (Part One)

Food Allergies March 21, 2018

Food labeling is a growing concern for millions on a global level. It tells us the nutritional content, ingredients that may be harmful, like allergens, and other important info such as whether an item is halal, kosher, or heart healthy. Consumers are also increasingly confused by value-added labels, such as non-GMO, organic, and free-range. Food label laws are barely keeping up with consumer’s needs, but here’s what you need to know when it comes to dietary restrictions.  At thrive! it’s important consumers and professionals both understand what these labels mean, but the meetings and events industry, HR professionals, caterers, and…

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Thrive March religious dietary restrictions calendar
Dietary Needs Religious Dietary Practices February 28, 2018

March Religious Dietary Restrictions Calendar

Dietary Needs Religious Dietary Practices February 28, 2018

In keeping with my commitment to bring a helpful monthly dietary restrictions calendar to everyone, here are March dates to keep in mind as you plan menus for March events. March 4 – Mahāśivarātrī (Shiv Ratri) Observance & Dietary Restriction Mahāśivarātrī (Shiv Ratri) is a Hindu festival. Followers of Shaivism, which is one of four Hindu religions, worship Lord Shiva as a Monotheist Lord. The festival is a vigil in His honor and is observed with a 24-hour fast from food and water. How to Include Participants While we will still be feeding our guests and employees on this day,…

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Dietary Needs Food Service Meetings & Events Religious Dietary Practices February 21, 2018

Purim: Fasting, Foods, & Fun Festivities

Dietary Needs Food Service Meetings & Events Religious Dietary Practices February 21, 2018

Jewish people around the world will be joining in on colorful celebrations, delicious food traditions, and joyous commemorations. This year, Purim will begin the evening of Wednesday, February 28th and end the evening of Thursday march 1, 2018. Like many religious observances, this holy day has a many beautiful traditions, including dietary practices. What Purim Celebrates The holiday is a celebration based on a story in the Book of Esther. A young woman named Esther was the wife of King Ahasuerus of Persia. The King’s advisor, Haman, persuaded him to kill all the Jews in the empire, but Esther’s cousin…

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Food for Everyone Thrive!
Dietary Needs Food Service Meetings & Events February 7, 2018

Food For Everyone: Feasts & Fasts

Dietary Needs Food Service Meetings & Events February 7, 2018

Those with dietary restrictions shouldn’t have to fast because they fear the feast. In other words, our employees, attendees, and colleagues shouldn’t have to skip meals or pack they’re own food, when they’ve paid for the banquet, the meal plan, or the cafeteria pass. If food is going to be available to groups of people, then courtesy, professionalism, and the law dictate that there be food for everyone in that group. This year, commit to a new take on menu management by resolving to accommodate dietary restrictions for all your guests.  Inclusion Inclusion looses all meaning when it isn’t … inclusive. We want…

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Thrive February religious dietary restrictions calendar
Dietary Needs Food Service Meetings & Events Religious Dietary Practices January 31, 2018

Religious Dietary Restrictions Calendar: February 2019

Dietary Needs Food Service Meetings & Events Religious Dietary Practices January 31, 2018

It can be tough to keep up with the dietary restrictions of our attendees and employees. Knowing the holy days that are coming up can take effort because dates change each year and not all of them are included in the standard desk or Google calendar. On top of that, it’s hard to know which religious days are observed with dietary restrictions and what those accommodations would look like on a menu. A religious dietary restrictions calendar is exactly what’s needed. Even though our attendees and employees may not list their religious dietary restrictions and may not provide a handy…

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Religious Dietary Restrictions Guide - Thrive!
Religious Dietary Practices January 24, 2018

Religious Dietary Restrictions: Your Essential Quick Reference Guide

Religious Dietary Practices January 24, 2018
There are many religions with dietary restrictions and food traditions. Some are more famous than others, but all need to be respected and observed as closely as we are able when menu planning. This is your Thrive! guide to religious dietary restrictions.  Also, this isn’t comprehensive, and there are some differences in food rules across denominations. Plus, some people will observe these rules differently and with varied commitment. The best habit for us as HR professionals, caterers, chefs, and menu planners is to: Ask the attendee or employee what their requirements are prior to the event. Plan on accommodating as…

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