My Food Hacks for Keeping Attendees Alert & Satisfied

Sugar- and fat-loaded spreads of snacks and meals do your attendees no service. It leaves them feeling groggy and inattentive to the day’s events, yearning for the comfy hotel bed a short elevator ride away.

At the same time, you don’t want your attendees to feel like they’ve been sentenced to a diet of bland, tasteless, healthy foods. 

Thoughtful swapping out certain foods can help attendees feel energetic and content while still wowing them with fun F&B experiences. 

Beat the Breakfast Blues

Start the morning off right by doing away with boxed cereals and the supposedly healthy granola bars. Both are dripping with sugar that ultimately leads to a heavy crash. Ditch the carb-loaded bagels while you’re at it too. Processing those carbs removes nutrients and causes dangerous spikes to blood sugar levels. 

Consider opting for oatmeal, which is chock full of antioxidants, vitamins and fiber. An oatmeal bar with fun toppings, such as peanut butter, fresh fruits, nuts and honey give attendees maximum satisfaction and choice. 

While common breakfast juices, such as orange juice and apple juice, are popular, consider flavored water instead. Fresh smoothies are a naturally sweet treat that keeps attendees fuller longer. 

Meat trade-ins

Steak can signal elegance. But red meat takes a long time to digest, causing your body to increase blood flow to your stomach. Hot dogs, burgers and bacon are comfort and ease. However, processed meats are high in sodium, hormones, preservatives and antibiotics. This is the perfect cocktail for afternoon fatigue and reduced energy.

Oily fish, like salmon, mackerel and kippers are high in omega-3 fats. These superfoods are a great cognitive boost. They preserve cell membrane health, which is critical for learning and memory. Adding a citrusy touch to your plate adds more benefits, as citrus fruits help the body better absorb other nutrients. Not to mention, it’s tasty too. 

Chicken is also a good substitute: cheap, versatile and packed with filling protein. 

Saucy Condiment Swaps

Fattening, sugar driven condiments often creep up on an otherwise healthy meal and wreck it. Ketchup, mayonnaise, BBQ sauce and ranch dressing are likely culprits. 

The good news is that chefs can solve this crime by whipping up house-made condiments with lower sugar or salt intakes. Light vinaigrettes can dress up salads with an olive oil and vinegar base and customized flavors. 

Fermented foods add a flavorful, spicy twist without the negative side-effects. So, at the next company barbeque, consider swapping out relish for sauerkraut. Pickled vegetables and kimchi are also great go-tos. The benefits of fermented food extend farther than you think: they’re enjoyable probiotics that help strengthen immune systems and balance digestive tracts. 

Healthy Desserts? Sweet!

The most obvious dessert swap is trading in milk and white chocolate for dark. Dark chocolate not only contains lower sugar levels, but increases memory, attention span, reaction-time and problem-solving skills. Hello great keynote session!

You don’t always have the forgo the cake for the yogurt. Keep crowd favorites around and make them health-friendly by swapping out just a few ingredients. 

• Substitute coconut oil for butter
• Use frozen bananas for a creamy ice cream base
• Almond flour or whole wheat flour causes less glucose level spikes than white flour
• Opt for stevia, coconut sugar, agave nectar, honey, dates or maple syrup instead of refined sugar

These quick fixes often double as a solution for dietary restrictions. The right chef will know how to seamlessly blend the flavors together and make your dessert taste guiltily delicious.