Tag: Dietary Restrictions

psychological impact of food allergies
Food Allergies June 7, 2019

The Psychological Impact of Food Allergies

Food Allergies June 7, 2019

Food Allergies Psychologically Impact Social Experiences We all have an inherent human emotional need to associate with and be welcomed by others within groups. Whether it’s the kickball team, family, the neighborhood book club or the office, the need to belong is at the heart of each of us feeling accepted, getting attention and gaining/providing support. As we go through life, we are motivated to fulfill these social needs along with our basic needs of food, housing and love. It drives our need to feel good about ourselves.   “The need to belong is an intrinsic motivation to affiliate with others…

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Dietary Needs January 17, 2018

Try These New Year’s Resolutions for Event Planners

Dietary Needs January 17, 2018

When thinking about resolutions for event planners, we are probably just like anyone else in a lot of ways. We want to be healthy, happy, and finally finish that book we’ve had bookmarked on the nightstand. But professionally, there’s a lot we can do, and I’ve got a few manageable suggestions for anyone looking for a few meeting and event commitments to be more inclusive in 2018. Embrace New Technologies There are plenty of ways to do this. We can implement a new event planning software. We can manage our to-do list with a new app. We can experiment with…

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dietary restrictions and invisible disabilities
Duty of Care December 14, 2017

Thrive! With Dietary Restrictions and Invisible Disabilities, Part Two

Duty of Care December 14, 2017

We know what disabilities are, and I discussed invisible disabilities in, “Thrive! With Invisible Disabilities, Part One.” In part two, I want to chat about some of the behaviors and concepts that will help illustrate dietary restrictions and invisible disabilities. As a reminder, invisible disabilities are also called hidden disabilities because they are restrictions that aren’t clearly visible or apparent. Food allergies and intolerances are included when we talk about invisible disabilities because, just like asthma, arthritis, and other conditions, diseases, and dysfunctions, we can’t see the challenges those with invisible disabilities may be experiencing. The Americans with Disabilities Act…

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Culinary Forecast
Trends November 9, 2017

Culinary Forecast: Food Trends, 2018 – Part Three

Trends November 9, 2017

There are a multitude of food trends I could talk about. If you missed part one about superfoods, “4 Superfoods – 2018 Food Trends,” feel free to take a look. I also discuss beverage predictions in “Cheers! Drink Trends for 2018 – Part Two.” Following are a few of my ideas about the culinary forecast. Healthful Personalization At one time, personalization meant being able to asking for extra cheese on that hamburger, or adding a build a your own sundae station and omelet bar at our events. As positive, accepting attitudes about dietary restrictions and better understanding of food allergies…

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Health and Wellness
Dietary Needs Duty of Care May 30, 2017

Lessons for Human Resources Professionals: Health and Wellness Programs – Part Two

Dietary Needs Duty of Care May 30, 2017

In recent years, the dramatic rise in corporate health and wellness programs shows that companies understand (or are beginning to) the benefits of a healthy workforce. According to the Society for Human Resource Management, more than two-thirds of U.S. employers currently offer a wellness program as part of their benefits packages. The main focuses have been on exercise and eating healthier, but unless these programs address everything employees are eating, they are doomed to fail. Take, for example, the case study presented by Alison Acerra, MS, RD, national nutrition and wellness manager for Guckenheimer, a national workplace foodservice provider during…

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Salad Saga: Taco Salad shell
Food Safety May 12, 2017

The Salad Saga: Food Allergy Training Needs to be Mandatory

Food Safety May 12, 2017
But, The Salad is Gluten-Free! Last week a meeting planner (MP) posted a message (below) on my Facebook feed frustrated with the response the director of catering at a large convention center (DC) was providing when she asked if the serving vessel the salad was in was actually gluten-free.  The conversation went something like this: MP: I notice that the salad is labeled gluten-free. Is that cone (vessel) the salad is being served in gluten-free as well? If it is not, then the salad is not gluten-free and the label should be corrected. DC: The salad is gluten-free. You do not have to eat…

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Dietary Needs Food Service Meetings & Events January 24, 2017

2017 Cutting Edge Food Trends

Dietary Needs Food Service Meetings & Events January 24, 2017

So much can be said for the future of our industry and of food. There is too much hunger, yet food waste is a major problem. We grow field after field of crops that will feed our cars, our cattle, and ourselves, but we grow in unsustainable patterns with inefficiencies that cause massive price hikes on crops that would be affordable and environmentally friendly if they were only grown cyclically. And what about dining? We come together to celebrate, socialize, and conduct business, but the changing landscape of food laws and dietary needs has created a different environment for the…

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Jack O' Lantern on the Halloween party
Food Allergies October 27, 2016

Halloween: Keep Your Custom Eaters Safe from Forbidden Foods, Not Just Pesky Ghouls

Food Allergies October 27, 2016
Five Ideas for Frightfully Festive Cocktail Hour Fare Halloween parties are a fun opportunity to get creative while maintaining that special balance between making everything look creepy and delicious at the same time. It’s almost an art form and the catering craft has certainly seen its share of epic wins and brutal scares. One thing that shouldn’t be scary on Halloween is knowing whether the food is safe to eat. Anyone with food allergies can attest to the difficulties inherent in eating at parties. Add to that the additional vigilance needed when meals are disguised for a theme and it…

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Meetings & Events September 15, 2016

Honoring Honorees & Honoring Attendees: Creative Food & Beverage

Meetings & Events September 15, 2016

Our honored attendees and distinguished guests are so important, but it’s easy for our recognition traditions to fall stagnant. From announcements in the program to event website profile pages, we work hard to provide well-deserved recognition. Following are some pretty cool ideas that help keep our recognition practices fresh and some even integrate creative food trends. Create souvenir style coasters with the name and achievement, or a personal quote, of each honoree. Don’t just throw them in the goodie bags people get upon registration. Put them on the tables in the dining area. It’s a great way to keep the…

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Dietary Needs July 26, 2016

Utilize Technology to Make Diet Choices Easier & Safer

Dietary Needs July 26, 2016

Nearly everyone is trying to watch what they eat nowadays, but even the most obsessive foodies can find it frustrating to really know with confidence just what they are putting into their bodies. Food labels can be difficult to read and keep track of if you’re on a diet of any kind. Wouldn’t it be great if you could have laboratory testing info on all the foods you eat? Food Spectrometers & Detectors With so much power in our hands these days, it only makes sense that our smartphones would become the best source of food-related apps and tools. One…

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