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The rationale for a healthier meeting

Specific recommendations and guidelines for improvement

How to best work with your CVB, hotels and venues for results that matter

Our Webinar Roadmap

Angela Amico, MPH

Policy Associate

Center for Science in the Public

Interest

Our Panelist

Center for Science in the Public Interest

• Educate and mobilize the public

• Coordinate coalitions and partnerships

• Support federal, state, and local legislation

• Encourage responsible industry practices

• Share science-based nutrition information and clarify misinformation

Why Healthier Meetings?

• Workplaces should support the health of their employees.

• Nearly half of our waking hours are spent at work.

• Foods served at meetings and conferences is usually unhealthy.

• There is little opportunity to be active during the day.

• Many Americans eat excessively large portion sizes, too much saturated and trans fat, sodium, added sugars, and refined grains, and do not eat enough fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.

• Most Americans do not meet the minimum recommendation for physical activity, which is 150 minutes a week.

Why Healthier Meetings?

• Adopting healthy meeting standards helps to create high energy meeting environments that support healthy choices.

What makes a meeting healthy?

Nutrition

Physical Activity

Sustainability

Smoke-Free

Nutrition

Nutrition

• Offer fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lower-sodium options.

• Make the majority of meat options poultry, fish, shellfish, or lean (unprocessed meat, and provide a vegetarian option.

• Offer foods prepared in a healthier way: grilled, baked, poached, roasted, braised, or broiled.

• For beverages, offer water, and unsweetened coffee and teas, and offer with low- or non-fat milk. Consider not offering sodas or other sweetened drinks.

• Offer low-sodium and low-fat condiments and offer them on the side.

Nutrition

• Be careful of dishes that seem to be healthy, but are not.

Nutrition

• Where • Place healthier foods, like fruits and vegetables, first in the buffet line.

• Do not place candy or candy bowls in the meeting place.

• Offer modest-sized plates and bowls.

• When • Consider not serving food at

breaks that are not mealtimes, or offer fresh fruits and vegetables.

It’s NOT just about the food… what other things should be on your healthy meeting checklist?

Physical Activity

• Offer opportunities to stand up or stretch during meetings.

• Periodically break up sitting time. • Provide adapted programming or

alternative activities for those with physical disabilities.

• Identify someone to facilitate a short physical activity break.

• Look into hotels and venues that offer fitness facilities. Provide walking and running maps of the area around the location.

Sustainability

• Reduce waste and packaging whenever possible.

• Encourage participants to bring reusable water bottles and offer re-fill stations

• Have recycling bins and composting bins, where available.

• Provide handouts on a flash drive or make them available online to reduce paper.

• Use locally-sourced and sustainably-produced food and giveaways when possible.

Smoke-Free

• Meetings should be held in smoke-free and tobacco-free facilities.

Tips for Success

• Work with on-site caterers to plan a healthier menu from what they offer.

• Sample the menu that you have planned with the caterer.

• Make activity breaks fun.

• Ask for feedback from event participants and keep an eye on what went well.

• Promote your organization’s commitment to offering healthier meeting environments.

1. Serve fruit for dessert.

2. Serve veggies with hummus instead of ranch dip.

3. Use smaller plates, bowls, and serving utensils.

4. Offer infused water in place of soda and other sugary drinks.

5. Place fruits and vegetables first in the buffet line.

6. Organize a walking group during meeting breaks.

7. Cut bagels into quarters.

8. Save money and reduce waste by ordering fewer portions than expected attendance.

9. Serve dressing and condiments on the side.

CSPI Resources

• More information available at healthymeeting.org

• E-mail: aamico@cspinet.org

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