Top 10 Guidelines for Healthy Events

Avoiding afternoon meeting fatigue is becoming easier. More and more often those responsible for planning events are taking healthy habits into account when planning their menus and their timeline for the day. We’ve compiled our 10 best tips for healthy meetings to give others responsible for planning some quick advice to keeping their guests alert and focused throughout their event.

Offer water throughout the day.
Did you know that your brain is strong influenced by its hydration status? Hydration has a major effect on energy levels and brain function. It’s so easy to reach for a soda or a cup of coffee for a mid-morning or afternoon pick-me-up, but science has shown that drinking a full glass of water can also do the trick!

Offer a variety of fresh vegetables.Serve fresh fruit as a snack or dessert.
Everyone knows that fruits and vegetables are an important part of a healthy diet, but thinking of their short-term benefits is likely not on the minds of meeting organizers. Consuming these foods throughout the day improves food and improves memory. Each are key aspects to positive attendee engagement at events.

Select whole grains for breads, sides, and baked goods.
Whole grains are the good-for-you grain. Their most short-term benefit affects the brain. Have you ever wondered why you are so tired after driving in the car for several hours? All of the focus you dedicated to staying safe on the road depleted your brain’s energy. Carbohydrates turn into glucose – the brain’s fuel source. Whole simple carbohydrates like raw fruit and whole complex carbohydrates like grains, legumes, and tubers are excellent sources of glucose for the brain. Refined carbohydrates can deprive the brain of glucose.

Select health proteins and at least one plant-based vegetarian option.
Short-term memory is essential for everyday life, especially when it comes to comprehending and committing to memory important content form presentations. Healthy proteins positively promote memory. It doesn’t just lie with chicken, beef or fish. Healthy proteins can also be plant-based. For example lentils, beans and nuts are all great vegan sources of protein. 

Encourage healthy, right-sized portions.
In a world of mega-muffins and super-sizing, it is easy to become serving-size challenged. Plated meal options will give your caterer the most portion control, whereas buffets and station set ups put the portion control of your guests. If the health of your organization is on your mind, educate your attendees on smart lifestyle choices.

Give attendees an opportunity to move throughout the day.
A growing body of evidence shows that taking regular breaks from mental tasks improves productivity and creativity — and that skipping breaks can lead to stress and exhaustion. Mental concentration is similar to a muscle. It becomes fatigued after sustained use and needs a rest period before it can recover.

Offer a healthy morning or afternoon snack.
Even though snacking has developed a “bad image,” snacks are an important part of the meeting day. A healthy snack between meals can provide energy and decrease hunger, keeping guests from overeating at meal time.

Promote Green Meeting Practices.
Read more about green meeting practices!