By Sarah Smith

Currently there is an obesity epidemic spreading throughout America, and it is deadly and preventable. Nearly 2/3 of adults and 1/3 of youth in America are classified as overweight or obese. Being obese greatly increases the risk of heart disease, type II diabetes, many types of cancer, stroke, joint pain, and an increase in sedentary lifestyle. Many people are choosing to take control of their own fitness and diet and trying to make changes to improve their health. To aid people in their quest for better health it is important to take serious consideration of catered events in both a corporate and party setting. Catering does not have to mean overly processed unhealthy foods. With a bit of creativity, there are many healthy options available.

Salad Bars Are Not Boring

Salad bars offer a healthy and diverse catering option for a classy wedding, fun graduation party, corporate lunch, and everything in between. Gone are the days of droopy lettuce and a few options for dressing being the definition of a salad. Talk to your caterer about different types of lettuce and vegetables for a green salad. Consider pasta salads, antipasto salads, and fruit salads. There are so many healthy and nutritious dips and spreads that can be added to make a salad bar even more unique and exciting.

Consider a “Build Your Own” Bar

Similar to the salad bar concept, but with a different twist is a “build your own” bar. This can be done for any event with proper planning and the offerings are nearly endless. Pizza, omelets, sandwiches, pasta, and baked potatoes are just a few of the “build your own” options. This provides a fun and relatively easy way to accommodate a large variety of dietary needs and preferences.

Think Local

So often catered food is overly processed and a far cry from fresh. When thinking about catering an event, consider using a caterer that has local suppliers. Food that has not been shipped from the other side of the world typically contains higher nutritional value. It is extremely refreshing to know where your food comes from and how it has been handled. As an added bonus, nearly everything tastes better fresh, and it is a great way to support local farmers. A forward thinking caterer like Noosh in Brisbane takes care to source their produce from around Brisbane when putting on an event.

Be Colorful

Likely you have heard the concept of “eating a rainbow,” referring to the vast array of colors available in foods. A table at a catered event should not look boring or monochromatic. Liven things up with a colorful fresh vegetable tray, raw fruits, nuts, and whole grains.

As with most things in life, planning a successful event, whether it is a wedding or a corporate retreat, requires good communication. Do not forget to discuss dietary choices or restrictions of people in attendance, such as vegetarianism,gluten intolerance, or food allergies. Be upfront with the individual or company you choose about your expectations as far as variety of food offered, how healthy that food is, where the food comes from, the preparation of the food, and the cost to you.