Everyone who reads this, knows I am a wife and a mom. This question is one that runs through my mind daily. I, however, know my family. I know what food will be met with rave reviews and what dishes will invoke the inevitable, "Can I just have a bowl of cereal instead?" question.
This question is the one that makes people planning meetings and events crazy. Again, I KNOW what my family wants and likes. Planning an event, especially an event involving food for 20, 30, 400, 1000 people...strangers...can be daunting. Some things to take into consideration include dietary habits (I only eat protein or am a vegan, etc.), dietary allergies (Gluten free, nut free, etc) , religious dietary needs (Kosher, meatless Fridays, etc.) and we haven't even opened the door to talk about people who simply don't like things like fish, steak, salad etc. Then, let's say your event goes on for 2 days, 3 days...how do you meet everyone's needs and not let them feel like they are being starved.
In my house, if you don't like what is made, you either go hungry or eat enough to get you through to snack time! (Honestly, I am not a villain, I just think kids should try different things!) At an event, that means that people who don't like what's being served either go without, or go elsewhere. Going elsewhere means they will probably be late for the next meeting. It means not only has their first meal been paid for, but now, their second one needs to be paid for as well. It means that anything that was said or presented during the meal was not absorbed by them.
If you are thinking this blog post is going to show you a magical way to solve these issues, it won't because if I had that, I wouldn't be sitting here writing this, I would be enjoying my island home with a cocktail in my hand. I simply want to inspire people to remember that when you are asked the question, "What's for dinner?" you be thankful for a meeting planner who has helped you answer that questions in the past!
Keep going!
This question is the one that makes people planning meetings and events crazy. Again, I KNOW what my family wants and likes. Planning an event, especially an event involving food for 20, 30, 400, 1000 people...strangers...can be daunting. Some things to take into consideration include dietary habits (I only eat protein or am a vegan, etc.), dietary allergies (Gluten free, nut free, etc) , religious dietary needs (Kosher, meatless Fridays, etc.) and we haven't even opened the door to talk about people who simply don't like things like fish, steak, salad etc. Then, let's say your event goes on for 2 days, 3 days...how do you meet everyone's needs and not let them feel like they are being starved.
In my house, if you don't like what is made, you either go hungry or eat enough to get you through to snack time! (Honestly, I am not a villain, I just think kids should try different things!) At an event, that means that people who don't like what's being served either go without, or go elsewhere. Going elsewhere means they will probably be late for the next meeting. It means not only has their first meal been paid for, but now, their second one needs to be paid for as well. It means that anything that was said or presented during the meal was not absorbed by them.
If you are thinking this blog post is going to show you a magical way to solve these issues, it won't because if I had that, I wouldn't be sitting here writing this, I would be enjoying my island home with a cocktail in my hand. I simply want to inspire people to remember that when you are asked the question, "What's for dinner?" you be thankful for a meeting planner who has helped you answer that questions in the past!
Keep going!
