Lunch Ideas for Business Meetings

If you are in charge of setting up or ordering lunch for the all-day business meetings in your office, you know how difficult it can be to come up with something interesting and unique. Every office worker in the country has endured endless platters of sandwiches and carrot sticks, served alongside coffee that has been sitting in its urn since 8 am.

It doesn't have to be that way. Business lunches can be simple and delicious without breaking the bank. Hot home-style lunches can be either made and brought in or catered to give meeting attendees a true break from the daily grind.

Regardless of the menu you choose, keep these basic "rules" in mind:

• Most people like to choose their own meal components and amounts. Don't serve pre-set meals. Let people pick and choose amongst many alternatives.
• Always serve a variety of beverages with the meal. These days, many people prefer lighter drinks, such as flavored waters or herbal teas, over soda pop. Make sure there is a wide selection. And never leave out the coffee.
• Make the lunch easy to eat. If participants are staying in the meeting room while they eat, ensure that they can easily set up their lunch at the desk or table. You don't want people to have to juggle two plates and a beverage. The meal should also be non-messy. For example, spaghetti in marinara sauce is a poor choice for business people trying to remain professional and without food on their clothes.
• Keep desserts light. Heavy cakes, pies and puddings will throw people into a sugar-induced coma for the rest of the meeting. Instead, opt for fresh fruit or cookies that can be snacked on during the second half of the meeting.
• Serve fresh coffee with lunch. Don't try to use up the coffee that has been sitting out all morning as it will be bitter and affect the taste of the meal.

Here are some great ideas for your next business lunch:

1. Salad Bar

While, at first, it may not seem like salad is a very substantial lunch, it is often just the right "heaviness" for a business lunch. Choose a wide variety of salad ingredients for the bar. Vegetable basics include lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, sweet onions and shredded carrots. To turn a salad into a main course, offer grilled chicken slices, roast beef, shrimp, and grilled tofu or panir (for vegetarians). Salad dressings are where you can really shine. Have a large selection of dressings, including ceasar, ranch, Russian, Vidalia, and Italian.

2. Ethnic Themed Buffet

For something a little unusual, serve a themed buffet based on the foods of a certain country. If the business meeting has any international connections, use recipes for that country's cuisine. Popular themed buffets include Italian (pasta, carpaccio, and a selection of cheeses and olives), Thai (a variety of authentic dishes- make sure to keep the majority of them mild), and Chinese (stir fries and noodles). Label each dish so that participants know the main ingredients and what they should expect in the way of heat.

3. Soup and Sandwich Bar

Just because you're trying to be creative doesn't mean you have to never serve sandwiches again. A sandwich bar allows business meeting participants to build their own. Include lots of options from breads to fillings to condiments. Start with several types of sliced fresh bread, including white, wheat, rye and some herbed artisan breads. Offer many types of fillings from deli meats to cheeses to more exotic fare such as chick pea spreads and soft shell crab. Include an assortment of thinly sliced tomatoes, onions, green peppers and lettuce. Set out jars of stone-ground mustard, aioli, sun-dried tomatoes, olives and other condiments. And, most importantly, let the participants build their own sandwich.

Offer up two or three different soups. In the winter, include a hearty chowder or cream soup. In the summer, consider a cold soup.